Mawlamyine, October (4)
The number of displaced people in Myanmar passed over 1 million from last year’s February 1 coup to the end of September of this year because of skirmishes and insecurity, according to a report released by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA).
According to UNOCHA’s report, from more than 970,000 people who fled their homes as of August, the number of people fleeing the war increased by more than 42,600 in September, bringing the total number of displaced people to more than one million.
In September, more than 42,600 people fled their homes from Bago and Tanintharyi Regions, including Sagaing and Magway, where conflicts are intense, and Kachin, Kayah and Rakhine states.
There were nearly 450,000 people who fled their homes in Sagaing Region, the revolutionaries’ stronghold, and more than 100,000 in Magawe Region, and more than 13,000 people have fled the conflict in Rakhine State, where fighting has resumed.
The military council has informed civil organizations (NGOs/INGOs) including the United Nations office in the townships of Rakhine State – Maungdaw, Buthidaung, Yathaedaung, Minpya, Mrauk-U and Myebon- not to travel and to suspend humanitarian assistance since September 15.
Because military council troops have blocked passage for security reasons, food is running short in Rakhine state’s refugee camps, according to the residents.
According to the UNOCHA, there were more than 330,000 people displaced before the coup, and the total number of displaced people after the coup has reached more than 1.3 million.
With the ongoing conflict and inflation, the security and livelihoods of displaced and affected people remain at high risk, UNOCHA said.
News – Than Lwin Times