More refugees are now in IDP camps in Kyauktaw Township, Rakhine State, according to people who are helping them.

More than 90 IDPs from Seinsin Village, Seinsin Village Tract, Paletwa Township arrived in Kansauk IDP camp in Kyauktaw Township on the night of April 26.

“The IDPs arrived last night have no cooking utensils and Monk in the village made them stay at the monastery. Villagers provided food for them. They need food and tarpaulin urgently,” said a local from Kansauk village on April 27.

The IDP camp was established since December 2018 and 481 IDPs are taking shelter.

Now the number of IDPs in the camp is increased to 572.

Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief, and Resettlement announced prevention measures to control the COVID-19 virus in IDM camps but water scares in some of the IDP camps and the IDPs have difficulties to wash their hands, according to the IDPs.

About 1,500 IDPs from Satepyin IDP camp in Ponnakyun Township are facing a shortage of drinking water.

Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH) announced there may be rainfall in Rakhine State within days and it will make the IDPs difficult to live as most of the IDP camps have makeshift tents and roofs are made of tarpaulin.

The fighting between Arakan Army (AA) and the army occurred in Rakhine State since mid-December 2018 and the fighting intensified in the state after the government branded the AA as a terrorist group on March 23 in this year.

The number of IDPs is reached to 157,291 in Rakhine State due to the fighting, announced Rakhine Ethnic Congress (REC) on March 31.

The REC said more IDP camps in Kyauktaw, Yathedaung, and Sittwe townships are built due to the continuous fighting that occurred during March.