Hundreds of civilians uprooted by fighting in northern Rakhine State this week desperately need emergency food, said a politician.

Aung Thaung, who is a parliamentarian for Buthitaung township, told NMG more than 400 people from 120 families are staying at Shwe Kyin Buddhist monastery in downtown Buthitaung. Locals are giving what they can but it’s not enough, he said.

Villagers from Kantkaw Myine and Nyaung Chaung, in the southern part of the township, were forced from their homes by fighting between the Burma Army and Arakan Army (AA) on April 27.

The “situation is really bad”, said Zaw Zaw Tun, who is the secretary of the Rakhine Ethnics Congress. “No donors have come to Buthitaung in April,” he said, explaining that the township is only accessible by boat.

Aung Thaung said the Burma Army and AA have been fighting on the May Yu mountain range in southern Buthitaung township since April 24.

Civil society organisations estimate there are already more than 10,000 that have been displaced by the clashes in the township.

Aung Thaung said before the International Committee of the Red Cross and Social, Relief and Resettlement ministry provided some food but villagers uprooted by clashes this week haven’t received any official aid.

He said fighting in Buthitaung township has affected Kyauk Sartai, Nabyu Chaung, Khami Chaung, Oak Taung, Kantkaw Myint, and Nyaung Chaung in Buthitaung township. Some villagers that fled clashes are staying with their relatives but most are sleeping in downtown Buthitaung.

This week about 3,000 also fled from fighting in Ponnagyun and Minbya townships this week, Aung Thaung said.