IDP Camps in Karenni State: An Ongoing Trauma
We have received the following donation request from a local group in Karenni state which we have been helping, however their need is currently greater than our ability to support. We share it with our wider readers and followers with a humble request to consider offering some contribution if you are so moved. Thank you for taking the time to read.
Since the military coup on February 1, 2021, the Karenni State has been plunged into a brutal conflict following the removal of its democratically elected government. The civilian population has endured relentless military tactics, including airstrikes and heavy artillery attacks, resulting in widespread fear and displacement.
Over the past two years, the Karenni Army and Karenni National Defense Force have fiercely been trying to protect the state's civilians from their atrocities across Myanmar. Consequently, numerous internally displaced persons (IDP) camps have emerged across the state, with the Daw Noe Khu and Daw Lyar Khu IDP camps particularly requiring urgent international humanitarian aid.
Recently, our team conducted a fact-finding mission to these IDP camps, assessing the most critical needs. Based on their findings, the FED produced a comprehensive guideline report and a summary paper highlighting the emergency in the Daw Noe Khu and Daw Lyar Khu IDP camps particularly.
The situation escalated last year when the military junta launched intense offensives, including airstrikes and heavy artillery attacks. It led to a significant increase in internal displacement, loss of life, and property destruction. In Eastern Demoso and Eastern Hpruso, over 20,000 civilians were forced to flee due to escalating violence and armed conflict. Some sought refuge in the neighboring Loikaw township, while others fled to the Thailand border area. The IDPs urgently require humanitarian assistance, especially in the form of food, medicine, and water storage facilities. Women, children, and older people are the most vulnerable to violence and exploitation.
These individuals are currently sheltering in inadequate bamboo structures and lack sufficient access to life-saving humanitarian aid. Unfortunately, Thai authorities have hindered cross-border aid delivery to the IDPs. Clashes and battles between SAC troops and Karenni forces occur daily throughout most parts of the Karenni State.
This civil war has devastated the livelihoods, security, and sense of normalcy for civilians in the region. The junta persistently violates the Geneva Convention and international humanitarian law by targeting civilians and institutions such as hospitals, schools, monasteries, and churches. Additionally, they engage in the reckless destruction of crops, livestock, and homes using heavy artillery.
IDPs in Karenni State suffer from trauma, having been displaced multiple times since 2021. Refugees, especially children, exhibit severe anxiety, sleep disorders, and intense fear triggered even by the sound of passenger airplanes. The profound psychological impact of this conflict on civilians will cause long-term damage and instability within families.
Urgent assistance is required for the IDPs in Karenni State, including access to food, temporary shelter, medical care, and psychological support. Despite the challenging circumstances, education is crucial to restoring some semblance of normalcy in the IDP camps. Children must have the opportunity to access even informal education, allowing them to establish routines and maintain hope for a return to their previous lives.
Clean water is also a pressing need, as IDPs have to travel 3 kilometers daily to fetch water. The recent attack by the Myanmar military on a hospital within an IDP camp near the Kayah-Shan state border only further highlights the urgent necessity for support and aid to the people of Karenni.
The IDP population in the Daw Noe Khu IDP camp is as follows:
Number of households: 514
Total population: 4,735
Number of males: 2,377
Number of females: 2,358
Number of children under 15 years old: 1,329
The situation in Karenni State is dire, and the people living in IDP camps like Daw Noe Khu and Daw Lyar Khu urgently need urgent help. They have been enduring tremendous hardships since the military coup in 2021, and the ongoing conflict has left them in desperate need of humanitarian assistance. Your support can make a significant difference in the lives of these displaced individuals, especially the most vulnerable, including women, children, and the elderly. By donating, you can provide them with essential resources like food, medical care, clean water, and temporary shelter. Your contribution will not only address their immediate needs but also offer a glimmer of hope for a better future, particularly through education for the children, who deserve a chance at a more normal and stable life. Your donation, no matter the size, will go a long way in providing relief to those who have suffered so much. Thank you for your kindness and compassion in this time of crisis. Your support can help alleviate the suffering and bring hope to those who need it the most.