Many NGOs ,INGOs, and various United Nations (UN) agencies, have evacuated their staff from Maungdaw Township in Rakhine State, due to mounting insecurity over the escalating war.
According to a Maungdaw residents who informed Narinjara, the departure of the staff from INGOs and NGOs, along with UN, commenced on February 10th traveling from Maungdaw to Buthidaung before heading towards Sittwe.
"Ever since the fighting began, they've been gradually departing. Only a handful of individuals remained yesterday.Their departure route initially leads from Maungdaw to Buthidaung, where they disperse in different destinations," the resident stated.
The departure process involved seeking travel permission from the Maungdaw General Administration Office and traversing the Maungdaw-Buthidaung road, despite its closure.
"Despite road closures, they received special permission to leave. This departure has been ongoing. Some are returning to their hometowns, while a few locals who worked with NGOs/INGOs in Maungdaw are staying. Most of those departing their final destination is Sittwe, with potential plans to relocate further depending on the situation," the resident added.
The organizations that have departed include the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Department for Safety and Security (UNDSS), World Food Programme (WFP), Action Contre La Faim (ACF), Bridge Asia Japan (BAJ), International Organization for Migration (IOM), Malteser, Danish Refugee Council (DRC), Community and Family Services International (CFSI), Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), Center for Social Integrity (CSI), and World Vision. That leaves only Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) who remain active in the region.
INGOs confirmed that all foreign and mainland staff, along with local employees from Maungdaw District, have departed. Sources within INGOs revealed that both the UN and other humanitarian aid groups are preparing to withdraw from Rakhine State, due to the increasing military tensions and widening conflicts.
To avoid the Junta’s airstrikes targeting residential areas, including residential areas like towns and villages, INGO offices in Maungdaw Township painted their organization logos, including that of the UN, on their rooftops on February 8th.
As of February 12th, residents reported a semblance of peace in Maungdaw Township despite the ongoing conflicts in the region.
