Yohei Sasakawa, chairman of the Nippon Foundation and Japan's special envoy for national reconciliation in Myanmar, arrived in Rakhine on February 4 and provided more than 2,000 blankets to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
He is a mediator between the Arakan Army (AA) and the Myanmar Military Council, and during his visit to Rakhine, he visited Mrauk U by military helicopter and met with some Rakhine political and social activists.
U Win Aung, who oversees the Nippon Foundation's aid in Rakhine, said, "When he arrived in Sittwe, he took a helicopter. He donated in Mrauk U. After that, he also visited the muslim camp (Basa) in Sittwe for a while. After that, he met with a person who can talk about the politics of the city, another person who works on development and refugee issues, and a woman. He met with those 3 people and returned to Yangon by plane.
On February 4, he visited 5 IDP camps in Mrauk U by helicopter and provided blankets himself.
The IDP camps that Mr. Sasakawa visited were Tain Nyo, Kyauk Yitkay, Myo Oo Gaung, Mya Tazaung and Myo Thit in Mrauk U, where he personally donated one blanket per IDP and over twenty thousand blankets.
After that, he also visited the Basa Muslim relief camp in Sittwe.
During the trip, Mr. Sasakawa was escorted by police and soldiers under the Military Council.
He said that this visit was beneficial to a certain extent in terms of stability and resolving political issues.
U Win Aung continued, "Mainly, in matters of peace and stability and solving political problems, I see that his coming is beneficial to a certain extent."
U Win Aung added that the Nippon Foundation is committed to providing additional humanitarian support to schools, clinics and other necessary support.
"Since conflict and poverty are directly proportional, we have made a commitment to support schools, clinics and other needs, including humanitarian aid as much as possible so that the poor people of Rakhine can remain dignified. Currently, we are planning to build 16 schools," he said.
At present, some schools are ready to be built and will be donated in Kyaukphyu, Ramree (Yanbye), Manaung, Myebon, Pauktaw and Rathedaung.
Mr. Sasakawa, the Japan Nippon Foundation's special representative for Myanmar, who is influential in Rakhine politics and military, arrived in Sittwe in Rakhine State in 2021 and held negotiations between the Military Council and the Arakan Army. In the last round of fighting in 2022, a humanitarian ceasefire was held on November 26 due to Mr. Sasakawa's mediation.
