Malaria cases are rapidly rising amongst displaced people (IDPs) sheltering in the forests of Ann Township in Arakan (Rakhine) State, with fifteen deaths being reported.
There are urgent calls for healthcare support for the around 2,000 IDPs who are sheltering in rural and forested areas of Ann Township after being driven from their homes by fighting between the Arakan Army (AA) and the junta in Ann Township.
Cases of malaria amongst the IDPs are rising fast with 15 deaths, some of whom were children, being reported.
A man living in Ann Township said: “Malaria is spreading fast, and the death toll is going up too. The healthcare situation here isn’t enough to handle it. With heavier rains expected soon, the situation could get much worse.”
Most of the IDPs are sheltering in the foothills of the Rakhine Yoma Mountain Range in Ann Township. They lack proper shelter, mosquito nets, and basic living arrangements. With the start of the rainy season the rate at which mosquitoes breed has sharply risen, leading to far more mosquitoes and the rapid spread of malaria, a mosquito borne disease.
The IDPs are really struggling due to the rise in malaria cases because they have very limited access to healthcare.
Another Ann Township resident said to DMG: “Hospitals and clinics are far from where the IDPs are sheltering, making it difficult for them to get help when they fall ill. Many can’t afford medicine despite being seriously sick. For those living deep in remote forest areas, reaching healthcare is even more challenging. As a result, many IDPs with malaria have no access to proper medical care.”
The AA took full control of Ann Township on 20 December 2024, but it is still barring IDPs from returning to Ann Town, the township’s administrative centre, because of ongoing security concerns. The IDPs are hoping that the AA will provide them with the medical support they need.
