An interview with a 50-year-old female IDP from Ngwetaung village.
October 27th, 2021
A woman in her 50s from Ngwetaung village in Demawsoe Township had to move to three places due to the ongoing fighting. She does not know where to go as fighting is taking place in the places where she moved to.
Since May 21st, fighting has been taking place between the People’s Defence Force (PDF) and the military council’s troops in downtown Demawsoe. Locals have been taking shelter in safer places for nearly five months as fighting is taking place every day. The KT interviewed a female IDP from Ngwetaung village in Demawsoe Township about the latest situation.
Q: Where did you flee when fighting took place in Demawsoe Township for the first time?
A: First, I had to flee to the old village. I had to move to the second village after three weeks as the military raided the houses. I had to stay there for nearly two months. Then, I moved to another town.
Q: What did the military take from the houses when it entered the village?
A: The military devastated the whole village. Some people lost Ks-one million while others lost Ks-800,000. Soldiers took two ducks, five duck eggs and food. I moved to another village the next day.
Q: How long did you stay in the second village? How did you survive there?
A: I had to flee to the mountain as the military entered the village. I had to climb up and down the mountain three times as the military entered the village. I had to spend two nights on the mountain. I had to carry rice, edible oil and rations. Then, I had to move to another village.
Q: Was your accommodation ok when you arrived in the second village?
A: I have to stay in another’s house at my convenience. In my village, I ate bean and bamboo shoots. I face difficulty in the availability of food. I have to keep groundnut and fried Balachaung. I moved to downtown Loikaw when the number of COVID-19 cases soared.
Q: What are your major difficulties in the next town?
A: Accommodation is ok as I stay in my niece’s house. I feel embarrassed as I have to stay there for a long.
Q: How do you generate your income?
A: I have no income. I can’t do any work. I have to rely on a small number of foods. I can do nothing.
Q: How about your house and shop?
A: The shop is always closed. I brought goods from the shop. I went back home when the situation was stable. The glasses were broken. I got injured due to the broken glasses.
Q: Do you still hear the fighting?
A: I heard the news that fighting took place in 6th mile yesterday. Houses are torched. I am afraid and don’t dare to go outside as I hear that news. I cannot go home to replace the old flowers with the new ones at the altar. I want to go home. But I don’t dare to go home.
Q: What is your future plan?
A: I don’t know what to do. I don’t know where to go?
Sent by Maw Oo Myar (Kantarawaddy Times)
