Monsoon threat worsens shelter crisis for thousands of IDPs in Thandwe

By Admin 09 May 2026

DMG Newsroom

9 May 2026, Thandwe

More than 3,700 internally displaced persons in Thandwe Township, Arakan State, who are currently sheltering in forests and mountainous areas, are in urgent need of assistance to secure safe housing, according to aid workers.

Aid workers assisting displaced residents said the approaching monsoon season could create severe hardships for IDPs who remain without adequate shelter.

“The rains are coming soon, and the IDPs still do not have proper roofing or shelter. They are also facing serious shortages in livelihoods and basic necessities,” an aid worker said.

The displaced residents were previously taking refuge in schools and monasteries but were forced to move into nearby forests due to the regime’s continued airstrikes targeting civilian areas, including towns, villages, and religious buildings.

Local residents said many IDPs have built temporary huts through collective efforts, but a shortage of roofing materials has left them vulnerable to harsh weather conditions.

“People are too afraid to stay together in schools or monasteries because of the threat of airstrikes. Instead, they are building small huts on the outskirts of villages or in the mountains, but they still lack proper shelter and security,” a local man in Thandwe said.

Although the Arakan Army took full control of Thandwe Township on 5 September 2024, many residents remain unable to return home due to ongoing regime airstrikes and worsening socio-economic hardships.

Thousands of displaced residents from Thandwe are currently scattered across other townships, including Rathedaung and Kyauktaw, as well as areas in mainland Myanmar.

Recent rainfall across Arakan State has already caused major difficulties for displaced communities, including damage to more than 500 shelters in Ponnagyun Township over the past week.

With thousands of IDPs across Arakan State still lacking secure housing, many are expressing growing concern about surviving the upcoming monsoon season.