The Sinbawkaing IDP camp in Mrauk-U Township, Arakan State, has been under lockdown from July 14 after an IDP woman tested positive for Covid-19, manager of the camp Mrata Zaung Sayadaw said.  

“We discussed with all officials of the camp last night and made the decision to lock down the camp to avoid Covid-19 transmission to people in other villages. It is not easy to tell all the people in the camp to be in quarantine. So, we decided to lock down the camp,” the Sayadaw said.  

Two family members who had close contact with the Covid-positive woman, and another two people from Phayargyi village, where the infected woman had stayed, are being monitored by health department staff in quarantine.

U Nyi Pu, who is taking shelter at the IDP camp, said: “We now have only enough rice for 15 days. We have to work outside to get other basic foods. We will face difficulty in our daily lives now that the camp is under lockdown. We want authorities to provide help for us.”

People from Sinbawkaing IDP camp are also in need of Covid-19 preventive supplies such as face masks and hand sanitizer.