There hasn’t been any humanitarian aid distributed to the Rohingya community in Maungdaw in Arakan State since the June riots, according to one local politician.
“The government isn’t allowing international NGOs like the UNHCR and WFP to distribute aid. But they were able to do so before the riots between the Rakhine and Rohingya in June.” However aid is reaching the Rakhine community but “being blocked to Rohingya community”, said the politician.
The UNHCR conducted a survey on the conditions in Oodunag and Kyauk Pandu where many Rohingyas from Rathedaung are living in miserable conditions. But the UNHCR can’t help them until they get permission from authorities.NGOs require permission from district and township administration offices to help Rohingya communities, according to a Maungdaw official.
One elder said the UNHCR and WFP are giving aid to Rakhine refugees but not to Rohingyas from villages Boma, Samawna and Wards 3 and 5 - all were torched during June sectarian violence.
“The Thein Sein government is always giving aid to Rakhine refugees when a high level official visits Maungdaw. Also local NGOs only distributed aid to the Rakhine community.”
According to an official from the Maungdaw district administration office “there are no Rohingya IDPs in Maungdaw”.
