Emergency assistance needed for Ara

[sayagyi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

14-6-98

It is sad to inform you that hundreds of refugees from Araken State of
Burma are suffering a lot on the India-Burma border. They are not taken
into attention like Rohinga. They fled Burma to Indian side last year for
the same reason as others. When the reports came to Delhi, the Araken
Refugee Committee collected possible small amount of donation from fellow
pro-democracy organizations. A volunteer brought a few hundred rupees and
a package of medicine to southern Mizoram to deliver to desperately needed
refugees. A countable number of refugees have died of infectious diseases
and malnutrition. The volunteer and two refugees were detained for four
months by Mizoram police on his way back to Delhi.

In Delhi there are a few Araken refugees who are trying to seek UNHCR
status. It has been months for them waiting and surviving with scarce
assistance by fellow Burmese refugees.

The NCGUB office and National Health and Education Committee (NHEC) are
doing their best for Araken refugees. The Refugee committee is
unsuccessful to inquire contribution from any NGO because of
inaccessibility of refugees by any foreign NGO. 

It is learned that the Araken refugees in Delhi and on the border are in
need of emergency assistance for their survival. 

Burma Info (CCN)
New Delhi