Two monks staged a demonstration in Sittwe, the capital of Arakan State to protest against delays in the delivery of aid to flood affected families in Arakan State.
The monks, who marched through Sittwe holding a religious flag said that the government and international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) based in the country should come forward to offer relief materials to families who are suffering hardships due to the floods.
One of the demonstrating monks U Kaythaya said: "Many people have been killed and thousands have been displaced because of the recent flooding, but the government has provided no visible response. I think the INGOs have also discriminated while distributing relief materials to the affected families. All victims should be treated equally."
According to local sources, many remote villages have not yet received any relief items even though they are facing a crisis due to shortages of food, drinking water and medicines.
U Kayathaya said: “We are disappointed with the functioning of both the government and INGOs. It compelled us to launch the protest."
The protesting monks also criticized Arakan’s biggest political party the Arakan National Party for not taking appropriate measures to support the flood victims.
The two protesters also claimed that the INGOs working in Arakan State were more interested in helping Rohingyas and were discriminating against other races in the state.
Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI
