Over 7,000 displaced people (IDPs) in Thandwe Township, Arakan (Rakhine) State, urgently need medical assistance and food, especially rice.

An aid worker said: "Initially, we provided food assistance to around 2,000 IDPs when the fighting began. Now, the number of IDPs has gradually increased to over 7,000. There is a severe shortage of food. While rice is the top priority, health care is being overlooked. Furthermore, support from domestic and international donors is very limited. Since the Thandwe conflict is one of the longest-lasting, the situation is worsening.”

Aid organisations are providing the IDPs with about 170 (48kg)  bags of rice at an estimated cost of approximately 20 million MMK, which is provided by domestic and international donors. But, according to aid workers this is insufficient and additional support and contributions from donors are still required.

The IDPs sheltering in Thandwe Township come from other areas of the township as well as from other areas in Arakan State, such as Gwa Township and Kyeintali Town, where there is ongoing fighting.

Since November 2023 the junta has blockaded roads and waterways in Arakan State which has disrupted trade and communications and caused severe hardship to residents of the state by causing shortages of essential supplies, including medicine.

Talking of the situation for IDPs in Thandwe Township, the aforementioned aid worker said: “With the closure of roads and waterways, livelihoods have significantly deteriorated. There are no more medicines available. There are no medicines available for pregnant women. There are also no medications available for diabetes or high blood pressure. Despite this, we are trying to provide food and medicine.”

Rice from Ayeyarwady Region has been the main source of food for people in Thandwe Township, but in the third week of August the junta imposed a complete ban on transporting rice from Ayeyarwady Region to Arakan State, which is making the situation in Thandwe Township worse.