A local media source reported on 15 June that Vice Senior General Soe Win, Vice Chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC), said that if the international community wants to provide aid and relief to the affected population, including Muslims, they should have the permission of the Rakhine State Administration Council (RSAC).

Western News was reporting on the deputy military leader’s recent visit to Sittwe, citing a speech on 14 June at a meeting with relevant officials at the government office, mentioning the aid community.

Western News, citing The Global New Light of Myanmar, said the “Vice-Senior General stressed the need to seek permission from the Rakhine State government for providing aid to IDPs and Bengalis (using the junta term for Rohingya) under the rules and regulations. Aid can be donated to the Yangon Region DMC (Disaster Management Committee) to Mocha-hit regions through the Ministry of International Cooperation.”

The report says the junta also approved “the plans of the Secretary-General of ASEAN and the ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance Coordinator (SG-AHAC) for assessing the damage caused by the cyclone and formed an On-Site Operation Coordination Centre for systematic measures related to international aid.”

The United Nations has expressed serious concern over the last two weeks over problems they claim international aid organizations are facing in delivering humanitarian aid to victims of Cyclone Mocha that struck Myanmar on 14 May, resulting in over 140 deaths, and a swathe of destruction through Rakhine State and other areas of western Myanmar.