Refugees in Rakhine State are facing hardships as the military council's relief department has suspended regular monthly food rations for about three months in refugee camps in Rakhine State, RFA officials said today. 

     The Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement of the Military Council provides a monthly stipend of rice and milk to each refugee. But aid has been suspended since January. Than Aye, in-charge of the Nyaungchaung refugee camp in Kyauktaw Township, where more than 3,000 people are sheltering, said they were forced to borrow food because of a lack of food. “It has been three months now that rice has not arrived at our camp. 

    The refugees borrowed money from that person. We have to eat and drink like this man owed. Others have no rice. "If food does not arrive this month, we will not be able to survive." U Than Htay, a refugee, told RFA that the refugees in the industrial zone in Ponnagyun Township are also facing difficulties due to the lack of government-supplied food rations. "Food has not arrived for three months. The refugees do not have full-time jobs as before. Commodity prices also rose. When food is not available, it is very difficult. 

    At present, a WFP sponsor is eating a meager 17,000 a month. How can we cope with that? ” The refugee camp in Ponna Kyun Industrial Zone was officially opened by the government in 2020. A total of more than 600 refugees are taking refuge in Nammada village in Paletwa Township. Similarly, Mrauk-U. Rathe Taung Refugees in Buthidaung and other townships are also facing difficulties due to lack of food aid. Hla Thein, a spokesman for the Rakhine State Military Council, who spoke on condition of anonymity, was not immediately available for comment by RFA. The Rakhine Nationalities Association (REC) says more than 60,000 people have been displaced by the conflict between the military and the Arakan Army (AA) in Rakhine State.