Food crisis affected areas in Chin state, western Burma will be receiving help from the World Food Program (WFP) led international and domestic Non Governmental Organizations in Rangoon.
"The relief will be distributed to 300 villages where around 100,000 people are facing shortage of food from rat infestation and drought in Chin state," said Joseph Win Hlaing Oo, director of Country Agency for Rural Development in Myanmar (CAD).
Relief organizations have initiated a six-month project for distribution of relief to famine affected areas. In the first three months, there will be free aid distribution for the people who are facing starvation and in the next three months it will be followed by a food for work system, added Joseph Win Hlaing Oo.
"In the first three months, under the free distribution programme the people from famine affected areas will receive 30 Kgs of rice each but those who have enough food to survive will not receive the aid," Joseph Win Hlaing Oo said.
Six NGOs such as CAD, WFP, GRET Groupe d'échange et de recherche technologiques), UNDP, CARE and KMSS (Karuna Myanmar Social Services) will deliver aids to their targeted areas in seven townships out of nine in Chin state.
According to Joseph, CAD will take up distribution of relief and rehabilitation works in Thangtlang and Hakha Townships, WFP and GRET will do so in Tedim, UNDP in Matupi and Thangtlang and Paletwa, WFP and KMSS will take care of Tongzang and CARE will be responsible for Mindat.
The decision on delivering relief to the famine hit areas in Chin State was taken at a meeting held in UNDP's meeting hall in Rangoon, former capital of Burma on Monday.
The organizations are now working on a joint proposal to the DFID (Department for International Development). DFID has also promised to fund the organizations for relief and rehabilitation work.
Meanwhile famine in Chin state in western Burma has killed 44 children in Thangtlang Township after they were afflicted by malnutrition and diarrhea, according to Chin National Council's secretary Pu Ralhnin.
Terah, coordinator of Chin Famine Emergency and Relief Committee last week said that around 2,000 villagers from famine affected areas in Paletwa Township had fled to Mizoram state, northeast India.
Bamboo flowering began on the Indo-Burma border in late 2006 leading to multiplication of rats in the region. The rats gradually invaded the farmlands and destroyed crops such as paddy and maize – the main staple food of Chin state.
