Eighteen international humanitarian organizations released a statement yesterday demanding an end to the severe restrictions that have prevented them from delivering assistance to Rakhine State during a month-long period marked by vicious conflict.
“Almost no humanitarian assistance has been provided to populations in need in northern Rakhine and assistance to populations in central Rakhine has been restricted,” the statement says. The groups attribute the lack of access to restrictions by authorities, communal tensions, and active conflict in the target areas.
Nonetheless, the groups say they “remain ready to provide whatever assistance is needed to all communities.”
The organizations say their aim is to provide aid to “extremely vulnerable individuals including children, pregnant and lactating women, the elderly, and persons with disabilities – many of whom were already experiencing acute food insecurity and malnutrition and not receiving treatment before the crisis began.”
Since the current conflict between the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army and the Myanmar military began on August 25, the Myanmar government has insisted that humanitarian operations would be led by the Myanmar Red Cross Society and assisted by the International Committee of the Red Cross. However, the organizations stress that this will not be sufficient.
“International NGOs stand ready to act on the invitation made by the State Counsellor in her speech on 19 September to assist in the provision of life-saving humanitarian assistance to all communities in need of aid,” they write.
The NGOs decry the “allegations, misinformation and public accusations against humanitarian staff” that “have led to genuine fears amongst humanitarian workers, in particular national staff, and have contributed to an environment where targeted attacks on humanitarian staff have taken place.”
On September 20, a mob of armed Buddhists prevented an aid shipment organized by theInternational Committee of the Red Cross from sailing to northern Rakhine State because they believed it would benefit Rohingyas. Police had to disperse the protesters with tear gas and rubber bullets.
In early August, Aung San Suu Kyi’s Information Committee stoked anti-NGO sentiments when it reported that “violent attackers” were benefiting from aid from the World Food Programme.
This, they write, “undermines the central principles of neutrality and impartiality that guide all humanitarian action and “threatens the safety and protection of humanitarian workers.”
“We urge the government and authorities of Myanmar to ensure that all people in need in Rakhine State have full, free and unimpeded access to life-saving humanitarian assistance. This must include lifting all movement restrictions and ensuring that humanitarian actors can carry out their work in safety.”
The statement was signed by:
- Care International
- Norwegian Refugee Council
- Danish Refugee Council
- Oxfam
- Consortium of Dutch NGOs
- Plan International
- International Rescue Committee
- Relief International
- Action Contre La Faim
- Save the Children
- World Vision International
- Solidarités International
- Malteser International
- People In Need
- Mercy Corps
- Luther World Federation
- ADRA Myanmar
- DCA-NCA
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