IDPs at Cedipyin Camp in Rathedaung face acute hardship, urgently need aid

By Admin 16 Mar 2026

DMG Newsroom

16 March 2026, Rathedaung

Approximately 1,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) sheltering at the Cedipyin camp on the banks of the Mayu River in Rathedaung Township, an area controlled by the Arakan Army (AA), are facing severe livelihood hardships and are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

The camp hosts displaced residents from Sittwe and Thandwe townships who are struggling to survive due to a lack of employment opportunities and soaring commodity prices.

“I sell snacks to get by, but if I fall slightly ill, we can no longer afford our basic needs. I also have school fees to pay for my children. The money I earn simply cannot keep up with the costs. When we run out, we have to borrow from others,” said Daw Hla Nyunt Sein, 46, a displaced person from Thandwe Township.

To earn an income, IDPs engage in casual labor such as collecting firewood from nearby mountains, fishing, and working as porters or day laborers. However, they say these earnings are insufficient to cover the rising cost of living.

Daw Than Than Nwe, a woman in her 30s from Thandwe now staying at the camp, described the situation: “Life is difficult here. Even when casual work pays well, the money disappears instantly because prices are so high. We are afraid to return to Thandwe because jobs are even scarcer there, and people are still fleeing to this camp. We fear we might starve if we go back now.”

Most residents from Thandwe rely on the fishing industry, but they are unable to return home as threats from junta naval vessels prevent them from operating safely.

“I have no work. I rely entirely on my daughter’s income, but even with strict budgeting, we can barely manage,” said another displaced man from Sittwe.

While the Humanitarian and Development Coordination Office (HDCO) of the United League of Arakan (ULA) provides some assistance, residents say the support is irregular, worsening their financial difficulties. They also noted a lack of aid from other local civil society organizations in Rathedaung Township.

After more than two years of intensified conflict in Arakan State, displaced people say survival is becoming increasingly difficult as displacement drags on, employment opportunities remain scarce, and inflation continues to rise.

A report released by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) on March 9, 2026, warned that Arakan State is currently experiencing its most severe humanitarian and food security crisis to date.