MYANMAR / RAKHINE DISPLACED

WFP is providing food assistance to around 100,000 displaced people in Rakhine state. WFP

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:03
• Production Date: 9 November 2012
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME - WFP
• Subject Topical: NUTRITION; HUMANITARIAN RELIEF; REFUGEES; DISPLACED PERSONS
• Geographic Subject: MYANMAR
• MAMS Id: U121109f

Description

STORY: MYANMAR / RAKHINE DISPLACED
TRT: 2:03
SOURCE: WFP
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 2-3 NOVEMBER 2012, SITTWE, MYANMAR

Shotlist

1. Various shots, Thet Kae Pyin refugee camp
2. Various shots, food distribution at Done Taik Koue refugee camp
3. Various shots, women loading food onto boats at WFP logistics base
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Frances Kennedy, Spokesperson, World Food Programme (WFP):
"WFP has dispatched supplies to the areas affected by the recent upsurge of violence in October in Rakhine state. That means precious one month food rations for around 35,000 people many of them are living in very hard to access communities in fact we are using small boats to navigate on shallow waterways here to get those supplies through... and those supplies also include special nutritious foods for pregnant women, new mothers and young babies to guard against malnutrition among these people.”
5. Various shots, boats loaded with WFP food heading to violence affected areas

Storyline

The World Food Programme (WFP) is providing food assistance to around a hundred thousand displaced people in Myanmar’s Rakhine state following the recent upsurge in violence there.

Rakhine state is an extremely remote, undeveloped region where inter-communal violence has forced tens of thousands of people from their homes in recent months.

WFP is dispatching and distributing food for more than 35,000 people in all Rakhine townships affected by the surge in violence in October. Most of the affected communities can only be reached by water transport. WFP is moving most of its food on small, boats along the shallow waterways.

The agency also continues to provide regular food assistance to about 65,000 people displaced in June, who are now living in camps in and around Sittwe town. Food prices in Sittwe and the surrounding area are reported to have increased dramatically in recent days, putting an extra strain on the resources of people living in this already very poor region of Myanmar.

WFP estimates a requirement of US$11 million over the next six months to provide for the food needs of over 100,000 displaced people. All food commodities, except oil, can be purchased locally in Myanmar and shipped directly to the affected areas.

Since June, food aid has at all times included rations of Super Cereal – a specialised nutritious food – in the assistance given to pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under five amongst the displaced. This is a preventive measure designed to guard against malnutrition.