Rakhine Buddhists oppose return of MSF

More than 100 leaders from ethnic political parties and communities including Buddhist monks said they would urge President Thein Sein to withdraw the offer to non-governmental organisations – especially the medical group – to return to the state, The Voice newspaper said. 

“Why did they [government officials] change their mind just four months after blocking MSF at the request of the Rakhine people?” local organiser Thar Pwint said in the state capital Sittwe.

“For certain, Rakhine people cannot accept the MSF operation.”

In a statement issued from its Amsterdam office, MSF welcomed the government’s granting of permission for it to resume operations in the state. 

“MSF is cautiously optimistic about this development,” said Marcel Langenbach, director of operations for MSF in Amsterdam. “Given that for many people in Rakhine access to medical services remains a major challenge, we hope that MSF can restart treating patients as soon as possible.” 

The aid group was forced to pull out of Rakhine State in late February for allegedly favouring Muslims and ignoring the needs of ethnic Rakhine residents of the Myanmar’s second-poorest state. In late March Buddhist mobs went on a rampage in Sittwe against international nongovernmental organisations, vandalising their offices and warehouses, and forcing their staff to exit the state. 

The Myanmar government and Rakhine State government announced the decision to allow MSF to resume its work in the state. 

“We believe it is critical that the government allows humanitarian aid agencies to have unfettered access to ensure people can receive medical care,” added Langenbach. “We understand that this is a sensitive environment, particularly with regard to inter-communal tensions. This makes it all the more important that independent international organisations can play their role in treating those must vulnerable.”

The Rohingya are particularly vulnerable, since they are regarded as undocumented migrants from Bangladesh, which in turn does not recognise them as citizens. They are, as a result, stateless.

MSF has been working in Rakhine State since 1994 and is the largest medical NGO in the state. Prior to February this year, MSF provided medical services in 24 camps for internally displaced people and in isolated villages across Rakhine. In 2013 alone, its doctors and community health workers performed more than 400,000 consultations in the state, addressing HIV/Aids, tuberculosis, malnutrition, malaria, antenatal and postnatal care and mental health.