Increasing numbers of IDPs in Kayah and Chin states facing difficulties

By DMG 25 May 2021

DMG Newsroom
25 May 2021, Sittwe

The number of internally displaced people (IDPs) are increasing day by day in Loikaw and Dimawso townships of Kayah State due to fighting between military council forces and a People’s Defense Force (PDF) on May 20, and IDPs are facing difficulties for their living, according to residents.

According to sources, the number of IDPs has reached more than 50,000 in Kayah State, with most living forests near the homes they were displaced from.

It is also difficult to travel from one place to another due to the clashes, and most IDPs have to live in forests without shelter or food, said a local woman in Loikaw town.

“As fighting has been taking place in Loikaw and Dimawso, it is impossible to go from one place to another. IDPs do not have food and shelter. They also do not have mosquito nets. They had to flee nearby forests and had to live in groups in the forest using raincoats as shelters,” she said.

There is no temporary camp for them currently, and local volunteer groups are providing for their living as best they can.

Most IDPs who fled from Loikaw and Dimawso townships are women, children, the elderly and pregnant women.

Likewise, the number of people who have fled to safer places from Mindat town in Chin State due to fighting that occurred on May 16 has reached over 10,000, with those IDPs now sheltering at more than a dozen places.

Most people could not bring anything with them due to the fighting.

U Hone Htan Shel, a Catholic priest who does missionary work in Mindat town, said there are difficulties in carrying provisions for IDPs as transportation is not good during the monsoon season. Currently, the amount of food donated by donors for IDPs is enough to last just one week, he added.

“Because monsoon season has arrived, we’ve faced difficulties in transporting food. Currently, the donated food for IDPs has left just for one week. It is very difficult to be able to get provisions for the next one or two weeks. As most IDPs couldn’t bring anything, we need more clothes, blankets and mosquito nets for some hundreds of IDPs. The situation could get worse if international aid cannot be received quickly,” he said.

At present, IDPs are sheltering at nearby monasteries, Christian missionary schools and high schools in the villages.

Fighting occurred at a place about 2 miles away from Mindat town, and took place along Mindat-Matupi road, according to U Hone Htan Shel.

Military forces and the PDF are fighting after the former seized power in a coup on February 1.