Aid for refugees falls short
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Efforts to raise funds to provide humanitarian aid to refugees fleeing conflict zones in Kachin State have fallen far short of the Bt1 billion (US$35.8 million) required in a plan by the UN and aid organisations last March, group say.
Only $21 million has been raised since March for the Kachin response plan, which was drafted before fighting intensified, according to the aid workers who asked not to be named. These funds came from international aid organisations and individual donors, they said.
The plan specified sums needed to provide shelter, meals, health, clean water, education and childcare to those fleeing fighting between government forces and the Kachin Independence Army. Food was the priority, with $14 million sought.
ICRC chief to visit conflict zones, jails
The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Peter Maurer, met with President Thein Sein yesterday on the second day of his visit to the country, according to the ICRC’s office here.
Maurer was planning to visit prisons and conflict areas after. But his itinerary was not revealed.
The ICRC and government have been working together to improve conditions in prisons and upgrade wastewater systems.
Prisons in Mawlamyaing, Myaungmya, Hpa-Ann are being improved while improvements at four more have been scheduled, an ICRC spokesperson said.
Mandalay-bound train attacked
One person was injured when a train travelling to Mandalay from Myitkyina hit a landmine that had been laid on its tracks near Indaw town in Sagaing Region on Sunday morning, passengers said.
The blast occurred between mile-posts No 21 and 22 as the train travelled from Nantseaung to Mawlue stations, injuring its driver Aung Kyaw, they said.
The blast overturned the engine and the next two cars and blew the wheels off the third, railway staff said.
There have been 72 attacks on the Myitkyina-Mandalay line since the ceasefire between the Kachin and government unravelled.
Firm to set up 7 projects in Myeik
Myeik Public Cooperation (MPC) will set up seven long-term infrastructure projects including the Maunttaung Region Economic Zone in Taninthayi Township, in Myeik district of the Taninthayi region, according to director Myo Aung.
Maunttaung Region Economic Zone is being established to carry out border trade activities with Thailand. It has an area of 323 hectares in which industrial zones and housing projects will be included.
The MPC will invest 50 billion kyat (Bt1.74 billion) in undertaking these long-term projects. They include the Maunttaung economic zone, a hotel, aquarium museum, natural resort centre, resource centre, high-class housing and island resort.
“We are now starting construction work for a housing project and Maunttaung motorway and selling shares,” he said.
