Arakan Rohingya Union Strongly Urges the Government of Myanmar to Grant International Humanitarian Relief Groups Unfettered Access to All Areas of Arakan Hit by the Cyclone

PRESS STATEMENT

Arakan Rohingya Union Strongly Urges the Government of Myanmar to Grant International Humanitarian Relief Groups Unfettered Access to All Areas of Arakan Hit by the Cyclone

Arakan Rohingya Union urges the Government of Myanmar to grant the international humanitarian relief groups unfettered access to all areas of Arakan State severely hit by the Cyclone Komen, in its strongest terms.

On July 31, 2015, tropical cyclone made its landfall at Arakan state, causing several deaths and extensive damage to homes and properties. The worst-hit areas by the storm in Rakhine state include the townships of Maungdaw, Minbya, Mrauk-U, Kyauktaw, Buthidaung, Ann and others, where hundreds of villages have been submerged, many washed away, and the Rohingya IDP camps in Sittwe area are currently inundated. 

Death of at least 18 Rohingya persons has been reported from various townships in Arakan, and a number of individuals have been unaccounted for. In Maungdaw Township, Myanmar Government officials have reportedly evacuated Buddhist Rakhine from the low-lying areas to highlands in Maungdaw East before the landfall of the storm. Emergency relief supplies from the Government of Myanmar for the Buddhist Rakhine residents reportedly began to arrive at the Buddhist Rakhine shelter areas. The UN and the limited numbers of international NGOs operating in parts of Arakan are reportedly surveying the areas and assessing the damage. Relief supplies for Rohingya from international relief groups or from the Government of Myanmar have not arrived to date. Currently, Rohingya communities in each township are providing shelters to the Rohingya victims who lost their homes. The continuous torrential monsoon rain is reportedly worsening the situation.

We strongly urge the Government of Myanmar to provide humanitarian assistance to all people of Arakan, including Rohingya, Kamen, and others, and assist in rebuilding their homes. Additionally, we urge the Government of Myanmar to grant the international NGOs unhindered access to Arakan state in order to provide assistance to all people of Arakan affected by the storm.

We appeal the international community to provide urgent humanitarian assistance in Arakan, including the Rohingya IDP camps, which are most vulnerable to destruction by natural disaster.