Hello everyone, Tharli Swa Par (Greetings in Arakanese). Welcome to Lay Waddy FM.
For this week, the world-famous Ngapali Beach, home to many hotel projects, has become a war zone. Residents are fleeing for safety as the area is now engulfed in conflict. Ngapali Beach, one of Myanmar’s most renowned beaches, is surrounded by hotels owned by cronies with close ties to the military.
The beach has become the battleground for fierce fighting between the Arakha Army (AA), which advocates for the rights of ethnic minorities to utilize resources, and the military government, which continues to ignore these rights. As a result, the area is now vacant, and residents have been forced to evacuate.
Many people living near Ngapali Beach have fled to Gwa Township, the furthest part of Rakhine State, where the war has not yet reached. We would like to highlight the difficulties faced by refugees who have escaped from Ngapali Beach and are now living in camps.
Our team member, Ma Hnin Ei, has interviewed some of these refugees.
Q: Hello sister, I am from Lay Waddy FM. I would like to ask about the difficulties you have encountered after fleeing from the war. Can you tell me how you are currently managing your living situation?
A: While I was at home, I made a living by doing small chores. When the war started, I shared what little food I had with others, and they shared with me. Now, in this village, I don’t have any work, so I’ve had to rely on my savings. For vegetables, I search in the forest and exchange what I find for rice with others. That’s how I’ve been surviving.
Q: When did you start fleeing from the war?
A: It’s been only 10 days for me, but others had already left earlier. I didn’t have much savings for food, so I stayed until things got worse before leaving.
Q: Were there others who fled with you and then got separated after arriving at the refugee camps?
A: Yes, there were. We left together, but once we arrived, everyone went where they felt comfortable, so we got separated.
Q: How has the village you are sheltering in been helping you?
A: They haven’t provided any food yet, but a villager asked for donations in the village and built the tents for us.
Q: It’s the rainy season now. Are you facing issues with mosquito bites or other problems? Do you have belongings with you?
A: Some people have mosquito nets and blankets, but others don’t. We let the children sleep under the mosquito nets, and the adults just sleep without them.
Q: Have social organizations provided any food support for you?
A: No, they haven’t.
Q: You’ve been relying on your own resources since arriving at the refugee camp. Are you worried about facing difficulties in the next rainy season?
A: I don’t even dare to think about it. I still can’t go back because the fighting is ongoing in my village. There are no jobs here, and I’m afraid to think about what the future holds.
Q: Hello, I am from Lay Waddy FM. You came here to escape from the war, so I would like to ask, what kind of difficulties are you facing now?
A: We are facing many difficulties in living. Since we ran away from the village, we could only bring two or three cups of rice with us. I’ve had to share this small amount of rice with my children.
Q: How are you managing your living situation?
A: We couldn’t bring much with us. We go to the village and search for vegetables that we can find in the forests and mountains. We cannot afford to eat fish or meat.
Q: Are there any fundraising groups or support systems for you?
A: The villagers don’t give us food; they only give us coconuts. They did help us find a place to build a hut, but I couldn’t even bring a billhook with me, so I had to borrow one from the village.
Q: I heard that some families are headed by widows without a men household leader. How are they managing for their living?
A: For women without a household leader, if they have children with them, we cook a cup of rice and share it among ourselves. We all eat together.
Q: I am from Lay Waddy FM. What kind of difficulties are you facing regarding food, clothing, and shelter after fleeing from Thandwe?
A: Food has been a major challenge, especially because I have many children. The journey here was difficult, and most of my savings were spent on travel expenses. Rice and other essentials are scarce here, and family members are not feeling well, so the cost of medicine is also a significant burden for us.
Q: Are there any family members who are not in good health?
A: Yes, the children have suffered from diarrhea. I believe it’s due to the unhygienic water. We’ve had to visit a clinic in another village for treatment.
Q: You fled with your children without your husband. How are you managing your living situation?
A: Back in our village, we used to sell vegetables for our livelihood. Now, we rely on the food donations we receive. The families living with us also share what they have. There are about 40 people from 11 households living together.
After that, we will listen to an interview that our Lay Waddy FM team member Ko Lu Zaw interviewed the author Ko Wai Hin Aung, an activist involved in the relief work across refugee camps in Rakhine State, about the current situation faced by refugees throughout the region.
Q: Mingalarpar Sayar.
A: Tharli Swa Par.
Q: There are also refugees from the war in Rakhine, with some fleeing to liberated areas. What are the conditions like for the people there?
A: I’d like to start by saying that the current rainy season is making conditions extremely difficult. Some of the refugees who fled from war zones became their villages to liberated areas, allowing some to return home. However, others are still unable to return because landmines remain near their villages. This is a significant issue for refugees. Now, there are even more new refugees. Because of current situation, there are refugees fleeing from Sittwe, Rathedaung, Ponnagyun cities and nearby villages and there are new refugees from Thandwe and Toungup cities.Given the rainy season, some refugees have been able to carry their belongings with them, but many others had to flee with nothing only had the clothes they were wearing. It’s clear that they are going through an incredibly challenging time.
Q: You are assisting people on the ground, what are the conditions like for helping and rescuing those who have fled? Additionally, which organizations are involved in aiding?
A: There are some aspects that are not ideal to discuss openly at this time, as the situation is still evolving. In the liberated areas, the Arakha Army and the Arakha People’s Government have some control, but the military presence is still significant in some parts. Because of this, it’s not safe for me to disclose certain details about the organizations involved. However, I can say that there are a few organizations working on the ground, though it is very few numbers. Back in 2021, when we were released from prison, there were many organizations actively helping on the ground. Now, there are far fewer, and the shortage of donors has made it extremely difficult for refugees who are fleeing the war to sustain themselves. In the liberated areas, refugees face severe hardships. The rainy season makes it difficult to find adequate shelter, and the cost of food is prohibitively high. As I mentioned earlier, the price of essential items like oil has skyrocketed, and it’s become difficult to withdraw money due to bank closures. All these factors make the situation much more challenging for those fleeing the war now compared to the past.
Q: What challenges do you encounter when doing relief work?
A: Since the liberated areas are controlled by the Arakan People’s Government and the Arakha Army, there is no interference from the military government, which has allowed us more freedom than usual. There are no significant travel restrictions, making this part of the work relatively easier and more progressive. However, there are two major challenges we face. First, there is a severe shortage of essential goods. The prices of crops have risen significantly due to scarcity, which has affected our ability to procure necessary supplies. Second, there is a severe cash shortage. With banks in the region no longer operational, it’s become incredibly difficult to withdraw money. This dual challenge—lack of goods and lack of cash—has made our relief work particularly difficult.
Q: Now that there are fights between Thandwe and Toungup, what kind of support do you provide for people in these areas through your network? Is there any connection with any social organizations there?
A: When the fighting started in Thandwe, I started collecting donations online and received contributions from both local and international donors. With the funds raised, I first transferred 10,000,000 kyats (around $1700 U.S. dollars) , then sent another 10,000,000 kyats (around $1700 U.S. dollars) to Toungup. Recently, I transferred 50,000,000 kyats (around $833 U.S. dollars) to Gwa. However, since we are based in the northern of Arakan State and it can be challenging to access some locations and in more remote areas. Despite these difficulties, we are making every effort to reach those in need. Additionally, we are collaborating with groups on the ground to ensure that the people in those areas receive the support they require.
Q: Yes, on the other hand, a lot of goods coming from the Mizoram side are stuck. They are still trapped, and because of this, prices have risen.
A: Yes, that’s correct. I didn’t use to go to the market. But, just yesterday, in one of our liberated areas, I saw a bread that imported from India that is normally can buy with 800 kyats or 1000 kyats increased to 1200 kyats. So, the commodity prices increased slightly. We are essentially dependent on goods coming in from India, which has made life somewhat easier for the people. However, it’s disheartening to hear that the military government are using the excuse of war to block roads, causing unnecessary hardships for the people. I believe that should not be happening.
Q: What can be done in terms of restoration in the liberated areas? Some organizations are helping as much as they can, so what is the status of restoration?
A: As I mentioned earlier, even during an emergency, it is difficult to say that we have full control over the situation. Rehabilitation efforts are ongoing but challenging. Air strikes hasn’t stopped, and airstrikes can arrive at any time, often accompanied by shootings. It’s too early to say that restoration has truly begun. Now, we are still difficult to say emergency period is ended.
Some villages that were involved in the war in 2019-2020, and that were destroyed, the villagers are attempting to rebuild their homes, but it is not just started. As I mention you before, aid organizations from NGO and INGO cannot work properly in these areas so, the villagers are trying to rebuild on their own. I hesitate to use the term “restoration” right now—this period is still defined by ongoing “emergency period”.
You can listen to the Rakhine news program on Lay Waddy FM every Thursday via Mizzima Radio. This program is sponsored by the Earth Journalism Network (EJN). Additionally, it’s available on Lay Waddy FM’s Facebook page, website, and YouTube channel.
