Low Connectivity amid Conflict and COVID-19: A Deadly Concoction in Rakhine State

Nyein Nyein Thant AungStudent, Master of Arts in Human Rights (International Program),IHRP, Mahidol University

After nearly thirty days of no COVID-19 local transmissions in Myanmar, one news shocked the country on 16 August 2020. A resident in Sittwe of Rakhine State, with no history of travelling and contact with any patients, was found positive (Htay, 2020). Since then, nearly a hundred people tested positive per day, according to the statistics of the Ministry of Health and Sport (MOHS) Myanmar (Narinjara, 2020). It was announced that the contagious nature of the virus is similar to the type found in Malaysia, which is ten times more infectious than the original virus strain (Htwe, 2020).In addition to the increasing concerns regarding the second wave of infections, the armed conflicts between Tatmadaw (Myanmar Army) and Arakan Army (AA) have not de-escalated yet. Apart from compounded struggles faced by Rohingya refugees, confrontations between Tatmadaw and AA have resulted to about 190,700 internally displaced peoples (IDPs), 180 deaths of civilian causalities, and 589 injured, according to Rakhine Ethnic Congress (REC) in July 2020. What we can uniformly say is that neither parties wanted to , amidst threats of COVID-19 transmission (Carter, 2020; Chan et al., 2020; DMG, 2020).In addition to armed conflict, the government cut the internet access in five townships of Rakhine State, which lasted for more than a year. The Ministry of Transport and Communication (MoTC) continuously jusrified the shutdown as a matter of security and public interest (Telenor, 2020). Every time parliamentarians tried to submit an emergency proposal, their attempts get rejected (Thura, 2019). Telcom operators eventually restored internet (2G connection) in August 2020 (Kyaw, 2020; Tun, 2020). Still, peoples living in camps find it almost impossible to access timely information about COVID-19 (Chan, 2020; Mra, 2020).On 19 August, MOHS updated its COVID-19 guidelines on its website and social media platforms. A day after, it announced a Stay at Home Directive (93.2020) for Sittwe Township (MOHS, 2020). Nonetheless, people with poor or no internet connecttion are unable to fully access this life-saving information. Within a year of internet shutdown, the traditional word of mouth became the only means of communication (Thu, 2020). Key updates on the pandemic could hardly penetrate these conflict areas.Before cutting internet access, the Government limited humanitarian assistance for IDPs provided by INGOs and NGOs. After the attack of AA on 4 January 2019, NGOs, except International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and World Food Program (WFP) , were largely restricted (Aung, 2019). Local organizations attempted to provide aid; however, they were barred from entering the areas where IDPs live (BBC Burmese, 2018; Cho and Chan, 2019). In addition, inter-township traveling was banned by both central and local governments when local COVID-19 transmissions in Rakhine State started happening (Narinjara, 2020).Access to information is an essential right in time of crisis. In the case of Rakhine State, neither the NLD government nor the parliament made significant efforts to alleviate the suffering of people who have been displaced and are living in conflict areas. With or without COVID-19, every person ™s life and rights matter.  Unfortunately, as of this writing, no light can be seen, yet, at the end of this long and winding tunnel.References:Aung, N.L., 2019. Aid groups barred from Rakhine conflict zones . Myanmar Times. URL https://www.mmtimes.com/news/aid-groups-barred-rakhine-conflict-zones.html (accessed 8.23.20).BBC Burmese, 2018. á›áá­á¯á„áºá…á…áºá˜á±á¸á›á¾á±á¬á„áºáá½á±áá­á¯ áá°áŠá®á–á­á¯á·ážá½á¬á¸ážá°áá½á± áá¬á¸á™á¼á…áºáá¶á› (Translation: Aids for Rakhine IDPs are not allowed). BBC News á™á¼á”áºá™á¬.Carter, L., 2020. Myanmar: Armed conflict puts brakes on COVID-19 response | DW | 07.05.2020 . DW.COM. URL https://www.dw.com/en/myanmar-armed-conflict-puts-brakes-on-covid-19-response/a-53360164 (accessed 8.23.20).Chan, A.N., 2020. ˜If we stay, we die ™ – villagers risk perilous, days-long journeys to Yangon through Rakhine conflict zone . Myanmar NOW. URL https://myanmar-now.org/en/news/if-we-stay-we-die-villagers-risk-perilous-days-long-journeys-to-yangon-through-rakhine-conflict (accessed 8.21.20).Chan, A.N., Aung, P.T., Khaing, T.M., 2020. Rakhine villagers still fleeing as second week of ˜clearance operation ™ approaches . Myanmar NOW. 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