India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Some United Nations agencies and international non-governmental organizations are planning aid programs for victims in Myanmar's western Rakhine state hit by recent deadly riot, official media reported Tuesday. According to coordination with the Myanmar authorities, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) plans to extend aid to victims displaced to relief camps, while World Food Program (WFP) is to supply food to the victims, UNICEF to construct a new school building and supply refreshment and medical care, UNOCHA to also provide medical needs and water supply, Malteser International to assist in preventive measures against infectious disease and ACF to supply purified drinking water. In the post-violence period, a total of 37 refugee camps were opened in the unrest-struck state housing a total of 31,884 victims, according to official statistics. Meanwhile, nearly 1,000 displaced people have been sent back to respective villages in Maungtaw last week as part of the repatriation move by the local government after claiming restoration of peace and stability to the area. The local authorities are providing the returnees security, the authorities said. Meanwhile, relief aid and donation are pouring in to the unrest- hit state. According to official disclosure, donation in cash and kind from the community has amounted to over 168 million Kyats ( nearly 200,000 U.S. dollars) so far. The situation in the riot-hit Rakhine state is now generally calm after the declaration of a state of emergency in the state along with imposition of curfew in six townships in the state including Maungtaw and Sittway, the capital of the state, since June 10. The two measures are in force until further noticed. According to a latest government disclosure, a total of 62 people were killed in the riot from May 28 to June 21. The death toll includes a dozen more who were killed in the latest riot occurring in Yadae Taung township during the period from June 14 to 21 amid declaration of state of emergency and imposition of curfew order. A series of bloody incidents, which took place in May-June, triggered deadly unrest and violence in the Rakhine state starting with Maungtaw township on June 8. In the riot, 2,230 residential houses were destroyed in fire, according to earlier report.

UN agencies, NGOs plan aid programs for Myanmar riot victims