Arakan State Parliament approves refugee assistance

By BNI
18 May 2016
Arakan State Parliament approves refugee assistance
Members of the Rakhine state parliament attend the first day of new parliament session in Sittwe, Rakhine State, western Myanmar, 08 February 2016. Photo: Nyunt Win/EPA

The Arakan State Hluttaw (parliament) on 11 May unanimously approved a proposal to provide urgent assistance to refugees from war in Arakan State proposed by U Kyaw Lwin the Kyaukphyu Constituency MP.
The Arakan State Border Affairs and Security Minister Col Htain Linn said the Arakan State Government must immediately form a scrutinising committee of state hluttaw MPs and instruct them to carry out systematic field inspections to find out the current situation in regard to refugees from the fighting.
He said: “Based on these field reports, activities, and [the refugees] needs, the government will submit their requirements to the central government step by step.”
In his proposal to parliament on 10 May U KyawLwin urged the government to provide food and shelter for the refugees before the monsoon rains start.
Currently there are 1,900 refugees from war in Arakan State and some who were made refugees last year are still facing difficulties.
Courtesy BNI