People from an IDP camp in eastern part of Loikaw Township of Karenni (Kayah) State have to borrow rice from others as there was no food at the camp, an official of the IDP camp committee said.
“The IDPs who have no upland farms face this problem. We distribute rations through the main warehouse. We could not share rations for many months. People close to them help as much as they can. If no one can give, they have to borrow rice. They have to return borrowed rice when they are okay,” the official said.
In 2023, donors could not reach the region due to transportation difficulties, and some local social organizations said that they could only provide aid sometimes.
The majority of IDPs are doing their upland farming. The borrowed rice can be repaid only when the donors support them. They have to ask for help from their relatives if there is no donor, according to the IDPs.
“A quarter of the IDP population have to rely only on rice ration donated by well-wishers as they have no own upland farms. We always put them on the priority list. We prioritize the families who have no upland farms when we receive 20 to 30 rice bags,” an official of the IDP camp committee said.
There is still a need for medicine and stationery supplies for the self-reliant school. More than 4,000 locals from more than 30 villages are taking shelter at the IDP camp.
The total number of Karenni IDPs displaced by the battles in Karenni State and in the Shan-Karenni border following the military coup. Due to the decline in donation, the IDP camps face a shortage of rice ration, according to the persons helping the IDPs.
Sent by Kantarawaddy Times