A/HRC/42/CRP.5 ICRC.929 Furthermore, since early May, the Government has imposed a rice-import ban in Paletwa Township, with limitations on how much rice can be purchased per person, contributing to insufficient food supplies. This is having a disproportionate impact on Chin communities.930 A large coalition of humanitarian organisations active in Myanmar warned that the impact of the restrictions will be felt by displaced civilians and others affected by the conflict.931 405. To reduce the hardships and humanitarian shortfalls that the restrictions are causing, ad hoc community based assistance is being provided to IDPs. Community groups, including monks, facilitate donation drives at the community level and then try to distribute assistance to those in need.932 However, these groups often need to operate secretly, putting themselves at risk.933 One Rakhine man described delivering aid provided by the community to displaced IDPs when his car was stopped by the Tatmadaw and his group was forced to sign documents that they were not delivering food to the AA. Upon returning to the village three members of the volunteer delivery group were arrested. 934 “After the leaders were arrested we could not do any more collection. We became too scared,” he commented.935 406. The humanitarian impact of the conflict is disproportionately felt by women, as many women are left behind by spouses who have been detained or fled due to the increased insecurity and many of them become displaced with their children.936 (a) Impact on livelihoods and food security 407. The conflict is having a severe impact on the ability of Rakhine, Rohingya and Chin villagers who reside in and near areas of active hostilities to carry out their agrarian livelihood activities. Given the predominantly agrarian economy of the region and the large number of subsistence farmers, the Mission is concerned that the situation imposes risks to food security for years to come. 408. On 2 April 2019, the Rakhine State Government imposed a curfew, under Tatmadaw control, between 9 pm and 5 am in the townships of Kyauktaw, Ponnangyun, Rathedaung, Minbya and Mrauk-U.937 929 930 931 932 933 934 935 936 937 116 Nyan Lynn Aung “Aid groups barred from Rakhine conflict zones” (The Myanmar Times, 14 January 2019) In the following discussions in Rakhine State Parliament on 2 May and 10 May 2019, it was mentioned that on 10 January 2019, the Rakhine State Government has directed an order to ban humanitarian and development aids, except ICRC and WFP: https://www.facebook.com/rakhinestatenews/posts/1283046778499832; https://www.facebook.com/rakhinestatenews/posts/1288319534639223. LM-048, See also : BNI Multimedia Group, “Army Rice Restrictions Add to Suffering of Paletwa Villagers, IDP” (29 May 2019). “Statement of INGOs in Myanmar on the situation in Rakhine” (Press Statement, 1 April 2019) available at: https://www.nrc.no/news/2019/april/statement-of-ingos-in-myanmar-on-the-situation-inrakhine/ (accessed August 2019). See also: US Embassy in Burma, “U.S. Embassy Statement of Concern about Conflict and Humanitarian Access in Myanmar” (2 April 2019) ( noting that: “Access restrictions on humanitarian and development organizations have prevented at least 95,000 additional civilians from receiving essential services, such as health care, education, and clean water, in five Rakhine State townships since January 2019”), available at: https://mm.usembassy.gov/us-statementof-concern-about-conflict-and-humanitarian-access-in-myanmar/ CI-316, CI-317, LI-140, LI-171, LI-214, LI-215, LI-225, LM-024. LI-140, LI-171, LI-215. LI-171. LI-171. See Chapter V, section E in this report: The conflict between the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army; Gender impacts. Notice number 597/3/6-1 (Lone Chone)/Ah Pha Ya (Rakhine), dated 1 April 2019, signed by Colonel Phone Tint, minister of security and border affairs, on behalf of the Rakhine State Minister, is on file with the Mission. See also: Radio Free Asia, “Nighttime Curfew Imposed in Five Townships in Myanmar’s Rakhine State” (2 April 2019).