WFP reaches displaced people in Paletwa Township, Chin State while many more remain cutoff and in need of urgent food assistance
Paletwa, MYANMAR – Following persistent efforts, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has successfully obtained access and delivered food to people affected by ongoing armed conflict in Samee Town of Paletwa Township in Chin State.
“Thanks to the support of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement and the Chin State Government, WFP food has reached communities in Samee,” said Stephen Anderson, WFP’s Country Director in Myanmar. “Priority now is to provide lifesaving assistance to people affected by conflict in other parts of southern Chin State, including those in and around Paletwa Town. We continue to appeal to all parties to grant WFP and our partners access so that we can reach those who need our support.”
This emergency relief assistance, consisting of rice, pulses, oil, salt along with kitchen utensils, will sustain 2,600 displaced people for two months. WFP also plans to ensure the provision of nutritious blended food to help children and mothers facing malnutrition.
WFP has also been trying to reach communities affected in Paletwa Town and will continue to explore all options to so that they can also be reached with lifesaving aid.
For the past few months, many people in Paletwa Township, which is located on the border with Rakhine and Chin states, have been living with food shortages and price hikes. Intensified fighting has resulted in trade and supply routes being cut off and fresh displacement of people as families are forced to flee, leaving their homes, land and livelihood behind.
Funded entirely on voluntary contributions, WFP is currently delivering emergency food aid to people affected by conflict and facing high food insecurity. This includes 270,000 people in Rakhine State, 47,000 people in Kachin State and 15,000 in Shan State. The operation in Rakhine has expanded lately to assist the new needs due to the ongoing armed conflict.
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