MMR171 ACT Alliance appeal Rohingya Myanmar

The destructive conflict in Rakhine started in 2012 and displaced about 140,000 individuals. During the period 2015-16, about 25,000 IDPs were resettled near their original home by the government. On 9 October 2016 an armed group attack on border guards in Northern Rakhine and the retaliation by the Myanmar army caused severe unrest and affected the lives of thousands of people especially in Northern Rakhine. The violence intensified further on 25 August 2017 when Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) launched attacks on 30 police targets and one army base leaving 12 members of security forces dead. According to Information Committee1 report on 5 September, 26,747 ethnic Rakhine people from Buthidaung and Maungdaw were displaced and are living in different newly founded relief camps of 8 Townships (Buthidaung, Maungdaw, Rathedaung, Sittwe, Punnagyun, Kyuktaw, Minbya and Mrauko).

An unconfirmed number of displaced people are also reportedly gathering at the border with Bangladesh. According to a report from the UN 500,000 people are reported to have crossed the border since 25 August. On 31 August, 15 international NGOs working in Myanmar strongly condemn the attacks carried out on 25 August and subsequent violence across northern Rakhine State.

The situation further deteriorated resulting in large scale displacement and affecting the lives of different communities, and especially women and children. Social media and rumours have always been active contributors in fanning conflict in Rakhine and this time also anti UN/INGO sentiments were reflected by local Rakhine communities. Humanitarian activities in northern and central Rakhine were suspended due to the security situation and organizations (INGOs) are denied travel authorisations (TAs) to visit the affected areas.

On 9 September, The Rakhine State Government (RSG) organized a Coordination Committee meeting and informed that UN/INGOS must now coordinate with line ministries before any visit. Only after consultation would the government approve TAs. The INGO forum and ACT Myanmar Forum have been engaging with Senior Government Officials both at Rakhine and Nay Pi Taw (Capital of Myanmar). Recently, CA met the Union Minister of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement and shared the plans of CA and LWF and sought the support of the government to reach out to the neediest.