AB News – April 1, 2024
Due to the ongoing war and blockade on transportation links imposed by SAC, over 100,000 people in Butheedaung and Maungdaw are facing hunger. The situation has been aggravated by the fact that WFP has stopped providing food.
In the regions of Butheedaung and Maungdaw, various ethnic groups reside, including Rakhine, Thet, Mro, Daingnet, Khumi, Maramagyi, Bengali (Rohingya/Hindu), and Kathay. They have been receiving assistance from the World Food Program (WFP).
The people in the area mostly make their living by working in agriculture. Some are livestock farmers, while others harvest bamboo or work in logging. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing conflict, they have been unable to continue their work as usual. This information was shared by a resident of Maungdaw with AB News.
According to a resident of Maungdaw, due to the blockade on all land routes and waterways into Rakhine, the World Food Programme (WFP) has stopped delivering food supplies. Furthermore, International and Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs and NGOs) have left Maungdaw District due to the intensified fighting. As a result, the villages have not received any assistance, and the villagers have been unable to work, putting them in a difficult situation.
As the naval and air forces of the military council started attacking villages and towns with heavy weapons, even those populated by civilians, all the international organizations including WFP, ACF, BAJ, UNICEF, UNDP, IOM, Malteser, UNDSS, DRC, CFS, NRC, CSI and World Vision left Maungdaw. Since their departure, the people have not received any assistance, which has left them feeling very frustrated.
More than 30,000 people from 31 villages in Butheedaung and 70 villages in Maungdaw are facing starvation. They desperately need emergency assistance, he explained.
The villagers depend on cutting and selling wood and bamboo to make a living, but unfortunately, due to the ongoing war, they are unable to work. Prior to the resumption of the war, the World Food Programme (WFP) provided them with food supplies, but now they are left without aid and are starving as a result.
Currently, there is intense fighting in Butheedaung and Maungdaw townships, causing locals to flee for their safety.
A war refugee from Minhla Kaing Village in Butheedaung revealed to AB News that despite the ongoing conflict, they are forced to put their lives at risk and continue to earn their livelihoods by cutting and selling wood and bamboo for their family’s sustenance and survival.
Due to the relentless artillery shelling on their village, many innocent civilians lost their lives or were gravely wounded, instilling fear in the hearts of the survivors who had no choice but to flee. Now displaced and with limited resources, they are faced with the harsh reality of having nothing to eat. Despite the ongoing conflict, they are forced to resort to cutting and selling bamboo just to survive, consuming whatever scraps they can find to sustain themselves amidst the turmoil of war.
Due to the conflict, job shortages and lack of aid from humanitarian organizations, villagers in Tarein Village, Maungdaw Township faced difficulty surviving with limited food supplies, as reported by a villager to AB News.
“It has become extremely challenging to carry out our routine activities. Despite working hard all day selling bamboo, I struggle to afford sufficient food due to the exorbitant prices. Furthermore, aid organizations have stopped providing any form of assistance, exacerbating our situation. We are currently facing significant difficulties and require urgent help.
According to the Humanitarian and Development Coordination Office (HDCO), the number of war refugees who fled fighting in Rakhine between 2018 and 2020 was 63,332. Since the latest round of fighting began in November 2023, an additional 268,731 people have been forced to flee. This brings the total number of refugees to 332,063.
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