The number of IDPs who were forced from their homes due to ongoing conflicts between the Myanmar Army and the AA has now reached 34, 589, according to the Rakhine Ethnic Congress.

They are taking shelter in the camps in Mrauk-U, Kyauktaw, Ponngyun, Rathedaung, Minbya, Maungdaw and Buthidaung Townships and the number of IDPs in the camps in Mrauk-U Township is more than 10,000, according to the figures of the REC.

The IDPs are now facing food shortages as well as a water crisis during hot weather while they live under plastic tarp roofs, said Ko Zaw Zaw Tun, secretary of the REC.

“Older people from the camp in Wartaung are suffering from the heat and they could not eat and are weak. And, they are startled when they hear the sound of artillery shelling near the camp. They cannot eat and sleep well. Such cases are also in the camps in Mrauk-U and Buthidaung Township,” he said.

He added that CSOs faced difficulty in collecting the figures of IDPs because of authorities’ prohibition on CSO’s relief aid and the increase of security concerns.

“We had great difficulty in collecting data about IDPs. We had to do it during the day and return to our offices at night because we could not sleep in the camps. So, we spent much time traveling back and forth. Previously, we collected data in groups or held individual interviews. Now, we cannot systematically collect data,” Ko Zaw Zaw Tun said.

Moreover, the recent order of the regional government put them in a difficult situation to provide relief aid for IDP, relief groups said.

The State government ordered government departments not to collect money among departmental staff to donate to IDPs and not to provide relief aid through their own program without permission of the regional government.