NAYPYITAW-Sittwe Township Social Organizations based Committee announced a statement on April 6th that they strongly denounced the police ban on the donation to the Internal Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Rakhine State.
Due to the clashes between Army and Arakan Army (AA), there have been over 20,000 IDPs. Moreover, the number of IDPs may increase daily, according to the announcement.
The committee also said that the Civic and Social Organizations were providing cash and kinds to the IDPs as they can. Moreover, they collected cash donations and aids by various ways. When New Generation Youth Team collected the cash assistance for the IDPs at Sittwe Myoma Market on April 6th, the police force banned on their cash collection. That’s why the committee denounced the police force’s act.
“We collected cash and kinds for only IDPs. There is no any instigation. Since they[police] banned on the cash collection, their act isn’t good. On the other hand, if the government will ban on cash collection, they must officially announce to the public not to donate cash and kinds. Now, they don’t issue any information,” said Than Tun from Sittwe Township Social Welfare Organizations based committee.
The IDPs are now sheltering at the camps over 100-day. During the period, the donation groups had collected the cash for the IDPs at the public concerned places but the police didn’t ban the cash collection. However, the police prohibited the donation groups from collecting the cash on April 6th.
“The private well wishers and donation groups are now providing cash and aids to the IDPs. The government and UN organizations made a little donation. It isn’t enough. That’s why we made the cash collection for the IDPs,” said Than Tun.
The committee was formed with 74 Civic and Social Organizations in Sittwe Township.
The Daily Eleven News Agency phoned to ask Win Myint, Municipal Affairs Minister of the Rakhine State Government Committee the police ban from cash collection. But, there was no person to reply.
Municipal Affairs Minister Win Myint said that there was no instruction to ban the cash collection. But, the Rakhine State government committee urged the charity groups to discuss with the respective administrative teams aiming not to contribute the cash collections to the other organizations, according to the Rakhine based News Agency announced on April 7th.
The fighting between army and AA took place since the beginning of end of 2018. On January 4th,AA insurgent group had attacked the outposts of border guard force. The clashes left many IDPs, civilians death and injuries as well as people were abducted and ancient historical buildings in Mrauk-U were also damaged.
