Since the first week of March, some locals displaced by over three-month fighting between the military council and the revolutionary forces in Kawkareik of Karen State, have returned to their homes due to food and accommodation difficulties.
An IDP said: “It is not okay for the people who don’t have money to live another place. That’s why they return home. Kawkareik is not in a stable condition. The fire still burns here and there. We decided to return home with the thought that we can solve our difficulty to a certain degree.”
The IDPs who have returned to their homes don’t receive any aid. They have to solve their daily meal problem at nearby monasteries. They have to choose the way to go home despite the lack of regional safety in Kawkareik.
At present, about 50 displaced people have returned to No. 5 Kwatthit ward of Kawkareik, and there are also people returning to the rest of the wards.
Since the start of fighting, locals have been taking refuge in Mawlamyine, Hpa-An, Tharmanya, Kyonedoe, Nabu and Myawaddy.
Due to the ongoing tension in Kawkareik, the people helping the IDPs have informed the IDPs not to return home because the safety of their lives is more important than the safety of their homes.
In addition, some IDPS said that the military council’s shelling, drone attacks, burning and burglaries in downtown Kawkareik, have been taking place on till 20 March. Some IDPs don’t dare to go home, some IDPs said.
“The reason why I haven’t returned home yet is that I don’t know whether my house is left or not. The houses have been burned down. No one dares to go home as fighting has been taking place. What can I do except feeling sad?” said U Maung Kyar who is taking shelter in Myawaddy.
Under the leadership Committee for Internally Displaced Karen People (CIDKP), Karen Women’s Organization (KWO) and Karen Youth Organization (KYO), individual donors and those from home and abroad are providing aid to Kawkareik IDPs.
Sen by IMNA