During the two-day visit, the OIC team met Arakan State Chief Minister General U Maung Maung Own and leaders from both the Arakanese Buddhist and Muslim communities in Sittwe.

The visiting OIC delegates offered to support the state government with humanitarian aid, according to U Hla Thein, a spokesperson for the Arakan State government. However, U Maung Maung Own denied receiving such aid.

“There is now stability in Arakan. The state’s chief minister did not take the risk of receiving aid from the OIC due to concerns about instability in the state,” said U Hla Thein.

The Arakan State government told the OIC team about the ongoing citizenship verification process with respect to the state’s Muslim population. Once the process is over the Arakan government may need supports and aid to rehabilitate Muslim families.

The visiting delegation also met with some other Arakanese leaders in Sittwe and explained the OIC’s potential role and aid to Arakan.

U Thar Pwint, a prominent leader among the Arakanese Buddhist community, said that the OIC team was a non-religious body without any bias against Buddhists. Moreover, he clarified that the OIC would not intervene in the internal affairs of Arakan State or Burma.

However, U Thar Pwint replied that the OIC did not come with any aid to the victims of cyclone Giri, which affected thousands families across Arakan State. Thus, the OIC providing aid only after sectarian violence in Arakan State may be looked upon with suspicion by locals.

The OIC team also visited refugee camps in Sittwe belonging to both Buddhists and Muslims on September 4th before leaving for Yangon.