The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Chin National Front (CNF) met last week to discuss the provision of assistance to internally displaced people (IDPs) in southern Chin State’s Paletwa Township.

Among the attendees of the March 28 talks were resident representative of the ICRC in Burma Stephan Sakalian, law and policy adviser U Moe Myint Aung, and Dr. Shui Khur, Associate General Secretary (1) of the CNF.

The meeting was held at the Joint Monitoring Committee’s office in Yangon.

“The ICRC has already opened offices in conflict-affected areas, but there is no ICRC office in Chin State. They are considering working there,” Dr. Shui Khur told Khonumthung News. “They came to discuss how they could effectively work in Chin State.”

Although clashes between the Burma Army and the Arakan Army (AA) have been ongoing since 2015, fighting has intensified in recent months, with thousands displaced in Rakhine and Chin states.

The CNF suggested four action points in the meeting, including for the ICRC to open an office in Paletwa, provide humanitarian aid to IDPs there, give landmine awareness training, and to work to guarantee civilian safety particularly along waterways in the region.

“If the ICRC opens an office in Paletwa, they can provide humanitarian assistance and medical treatment, as well as being able to rescue people if civilians are trapped in conflict zones,” Dr. Shui Khur added.

According to statistics provided by Chin State’s disaster management department, there are a total of 2,039 IDPs from 343 homes in 11 villages in Paletwa Township.

They are currently taking refuge in two villages—Meezar and Shin Letwa—and are in need of basic food and medicine.