IBEC Sayadaw's advocacy prompts to UN aid for Myanmar's displaced population
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Khit / Yoon (NP News) - September 6
According to the principal of the International Buddhist Education Centre, Stockholm World Peace Prize Holder Buddhist Sayadaw Dr. Ashin Sobhita (Venerable IBEC Sayadaw), internally displaced persons from Sagaing Division and Magway Division are going to get assistance from the UN World Food Program (WFP).
On 26 September 2023, Venerable IBEC Sayadaw attended the 78th United Nations General Assembly held in New York City, United States. There, he made an appeal for food assistance to be provided to internally displaced persons in Sagaing and Magway Regions.
"The donation is not from me. It's a donation from the United Nations. People in Myanmar are suffering due to the conflict. So, I requested that the UN include Sagaing Region and Magway Region in their food assistance for Myanmar. They promised to fulfill my request. The UN's World Food Programme provides assistance not only to Myanmar but to the entire world, especially border areas like Kayin State, Kachin State, and Rakhine State. Since they primarily provide assistance to these regions, I proposed that they also include Sagaing and Magway Regions."
It has been learned that there are 1.2 million internally displaced persons in Sagaing Region and a pilot project has been set with duration of 6 months. Within these 6 months, it is aimed to initially provide assistance to 200,000 people.
As a pilot project, the WFP has started supporting the displaced people in Sagaing, Myinmu, Chaung-U, Monywa, Shwebo and Homalin townships since June.
"There are about 1.2 million internally displaced people in Sagaing Region. As a pilot project, they started providing assistance to six townships: Kalay, Monywa, Chonegyi, Monywa, Shwebo, and Hkamti. They are providing assistance to 200,000 people as a pilot project. A local NGO, on behalf of the United Nations, is responsible for data collection and distribution. The donations come from wealthy individuals around the world, and the UN World Food Programme is responsible for organizing the distribution. Local NGOs are implementing the program,” Venerable IBEC Sayadaw said."
It has been learned that over 30,000 internally displaced persons in Sagaing Region have received three rounds of assistance, including rice, oil, salt, and beans, with a total value of over 96 million Kyats in the past three months.
In addition, the IBEC Sayadaw continued to say that the people are suffering due to the ongoing conflicts in the country, and armed organizations should engage in dialogue for peace.
The UN's OCHA has reported that nearly 3 million people have been displaced within Myanmar, as of August. The displacement crisis is particularly severe in northern Shan State, Mandalay Region, and Rakhine State, where the number of displaced persons continues to rise.