Displaced people who have fled to Tio River from the Chhan Chhuahna Rûn (CCR) drug rehabilitation center near Maw Si village in the northern part of Kale Township, Sagaing Region are reportedly in urgent need of assistance, according to reports.
According to a volunteer, more than 60 people reached the area near the Tio River in Ward 2 of Rihkhawdar on the India-Myanmar border around 1pm on 7 April after artillery shells landed inside the CCR compound on 5 April, forcing them to evacuate.
“Those who were able to return home have already been called back. There are around 100 people left. Sixty-one people reached Tio River yesterday. Most of them are in poor mental health. They have no homes to return to, or their families can’t support them if they do. Having come this far, they need rice, oil, salt, clothes and blankets. It’s cold up in the hills, and they had to sleep on tarpaulin sheets last night,” the volunteer said.
Of the 61 displaced people, only 18 (16 men and 2 women) are in good health, while the rest are suffering from mental health issues, the volunteer added.
Currently, they are temporarily sheltered in a hall in Tio River with the help of the local youth group, but are facing difficulties getting food, shelter and other necessities due to the location.
“They have asked the Tio River youth leaders for help, and for now we’ll have them stay in that hall, though I think they may not be able to afford food. With so many displaced people here, it’s difficult for them to find work. So I requested them to help them as much as they can,” said the volunteer helping the displaced persons.
Meanwhile, efforts are still being made to facilitate the further onward journey of the displaced persons from the drug rehab center from the India-Myanmar border to the Indian state of Mizoram.
On 5 April, at least five artillery shells fired by the military council forces landed on the CCR premises. Four men were killed and over ten others injured, including two with broken leg and thigh who are receiving treatment in Champhai, India.
The Chhan Chhuahna Rûn (CCR) center is a faith-based rehabilitation facility for people struggling with alcoholism and drug addiction in the Kale area, opened on 31 March 2012.
Sent by KMG.