The severe food crisis in Chin state of Burma was the focus of the meeting of international and domestic non government organizations held at the World Food Program's (WFP) head-office in Rangoon yesterday. All present agreed on the acuteness of the crisis and expressed fears about imminent famine in Chin state.
In an e- mail sent to Khonumthung News , the director of Country Agency for Rural Development (CAD), Joseph Win Hlaing Oo says, " Many news agencies are broadcasting there is famine in Chin state; so far famine has not started, but there is certainly a serious food crisis."
He further said the report of the Chin Human Right Organization on food crisis in Chin state dominated the discussion in yesterday meeting.
Participants of the meeting agreed rat infestation and draught have badly affected villagers in Chin state.
The WFP approved CAD's proposal of free distribution of food and implementation of the food for work program. CAD believes these would help people in affected areas.
The meeting was concluded with a resolution to work closely for more concrete data and methodology on the food crisis in Chin state, Joseph Win Hlaing Oo added.
A total of 12 participants from WFP, FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) , GRET (Groupe d'échange et de recherche technologiques), Care, KMSS(Karuna Myanmar Social Services), CDRT, CAD and DFID (Department for International Development) were present at the meeting.
The food crisis which is about to assume proportions of a famine (local known as Mautam) follows the flowering of bamboo plants. It is said to have started in 2006 and plagued several parts of Chin state and caused food shortage in the region.
Rats multiply after eating bamboo flowers and damage paddy and other crops, which is the main food of the Chin people. The rats attack even the barns where paddy stocks are kept.
According to Chin Famine Emergency Relief Committee (CFERC) the Chin relief group based in Mizoram in northeast India , 100,000 of over 500,000 people in Chin state are facing severe food shortages.
