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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Aid groups plea with Myanmar for access to war-torn Rakhine state

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Yangon: Aid organisations petitioned the Myanmar government on Tuesday for access to war-torn sections of northern Rakhine state, where thousands of civilians have been displaced this month by fighting between Myanmar security forces and the Arakan Army.


The recent clashes erupted on January 4, when the Arakan Army, which purportedly seeks self-determination for Rakhine Buddhists, attacked four police outposts, killing 13 police officers.


The Myanmar military has since vowed to “crush” the insurgency. It claimes it killed five insurgents on January 16.


The fighting has sent thousands of civilians fleeing to temporary shelters, but many remain deprived of basic necessities as the Myanmar government has banned all international aid organisations, except for the International Committee of the Red Cross and the UN World Food Programme, from entering the area.


According to the signatories of Tuesday’s petition, which include Oxfam, Save the Children, and the Norwegian Refugee Council, “this response will not be sufficient to meet the humanitarian needs of an estimated 5,000 people now displaced with further fighting and displacement expected.”


Eighteen groups signed the plea.


“Local and international organisations should be granted rapid, unfettered and sustained access to all affected populations to independently assess needs and provide comprehensive assistance and protection to all communities in accordance with international humanitarian and human rights law,” the signatories demanded.


The area was also the site of the 2017 expulsion of more than 720,000 Rohingya Muslims, which is being investigated by the International Criminal Court as a potential crime against humanity. — dpa



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