Although the number of IDPs has increased to nearly 60,000, the number of CSOs collecting donations for IDPs had decreased because the regional government regulated CSOs to apply for permits before raising funds for IDPs.
The Arakan Alin Daga Activists’ Group are afraid of collecting donations for IDPs at the moment because they have not yet been granted a permit although they submitted an application.
“We have to stop collecting funds at the moment because we have not been granted a permit to collect donations for IDP, said Daw Phyu Phyu Than, secretary of the Arakan Alin Daga Activists’ Group.
The group submitted an application to Sittwe township administration office in April, but has not given a permit yet.
Some other charity groups run risk of being detained for collecting contributions from local residents without permit.
“We’d like to provide relief aid for our people who have been displaced from home. We wish the government would allow us to collect funds for refugees,” said U Hla Aung, chairperson of the Arakanese Youth Blood Donors Association.
The Arakan State government said that it has to impose restriction of applying for permits before collecting funds for IDPs because it is concerned about undesirable situations.
“We will grant permits if an organization has registered for IDPs affairs and inform us formally. Applying for permits before they raise donations is the legitimate way to provide humanitarian assistance for IDPs,” said U Win Myint, spokesperson of the Arakan State government and minister for Municipal Affairs.
Most charity groups now hope for the government’s permits. The government’s restrictions hamper CSOs activities to collect fund for IDPs; this affect IDPs’ living conditions and other basic needs.
