50 humanitarian organisations have come together to form the Sagaing Public Network to more effectively bring aid to internally displaced people in Sagaing Region.

Ko Lwan Thu, a member of the Sagaing Public Support Network said: “We are only about 50 organisations. There are regional organisations that we will cooperate with in the future. As the member organisations have been working on the ground for the people displaced by war since the coup, the network now has started helping and rescuing fire victims who lost their houses and villages due to the junta’s arson attacks.”

He added that the network would become larger, until it covered all of Sagaing Region and more organisations would cooperate with each other when compared to now. He said: “We will work to be more systematic in helping and rescuing those displaced people by connecting with one another.”

The Sagaing Public Network was formed to coordinate and bring together humanitarian organisations in different townships so they can provide aid in a more efficient and timely way.

Ko Lwan Thu said: “It isn’t [a way] to get control of the organisations. It’s [a way] to carry out humanitarian activities more effectively.”

The Sagaing Public Support Network was established on 11 July following a decision to form it being made at the Sagaing Forum Conference that was held on 30-31 May 2023.

The Sagaing Public Network is currently welcoming new applications from organisations that would like to join them.