Six Rakhine organizations based abroad have jointly endorsed an open letter addressing the current Rakhine issue to global leaders, including the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
The letter conveyed deep concerns over food deprivation and potential famine caused by the escalation of conflict between the Military Council and the Arakan Army (AA) in Rakhine State western Myanmar, commencing on November 13th.
Since that date, the coup military Regime has been implicated in widespread human rights violations across Rakhine State, imposing blockades on essential roads, waterways, and transportation routes relied upon by the local population.
This has resulted in a severe food shortages, leading to potential famine in the region. The letter also emphasized the dire situation in Rakhine State, where residents are facing a critical shortage of rice, leading some to resort to consuming porridge boiled only with broken rice due to the unavailability of whole grains.
Moreover the displaced population in Rakhine State has surged to nearly 200,000, a rise attributed to the Myanmar military's deployment of artillery shells in residential villages unrelated to the ongoing conflict.
As the second poorest among Myanmar's 14 Regions and States, Rakhine State contends not only with the aftermath of natural disasters, but also with the repercussions of prolonged conflict. In light of these severe hardships, it urgently requires compassionate assistance, amidst a widespread crisis affecting the general public, as underscored in the letter.
The letter appealed for urgent assistance based on the following six points.
1. Opening of all roads closed by the military council in the State of Arakan and help in moving the goods as and when needed
2. Freedom for medical treatment for everyone and the provision for basic needs
3. Since it is harvesting time, rice farmers should get the permission to work in paddy fields
4. Cessation of the military personnel's destructive activities with bombs, heavy & small armaments in residential areas, where the people are not part of or connected with the warring parties.
5. Help in procuring the cessation of military's continuous arrest of civilians to use them as human shields, and also killing them on many occasions
6. Help to provide rapid distribution of aid from various nations and international organisations for the benefit of internally -displaced refugees.
The organizations sending the letter comprise the World Arakanese Organization, Association of United Nationalities – Japan, Arakan National Democratic Party - Japan, Arakanese Norway Association, Arakanese Family in New Zealand INC, and Australia Arakanese Association.
