The Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG) reports that people in ethnic areas have experienced the worst human rights violations since the 2021 military coup.
The number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the seven Karen National Union (KNU) controlled territories now exceeds 1.2 million.
Fighting between the military junta and KNU forces continues in all 7 brigade territories. Due to airstrikes and indiscriminate artillery shelling, the IDP camps in the respective KNU brigades have been designated permanent camps. Saw Nanda Hsue, KHRG spokesperson, said that Brigades 3 and 5 have the highest number of IDPs.
Saw Nanda Hsue said, “I’d say they’re suffering the worst violations. This includes not only the ethnic areas but the whole of Myanmar. It continues to happen in all 7 KNU-controlled territories. According to the current IDP statistics, there are over 1.2 million. The number of IDPs is increasing depending on the fighting situation.”
Saw Nanda Hsue went on to say that the military council is restricting and violating the basic human rights of IDPs and local civilians, including the right to survival, security, access to medical care and education, and freedom of movement. At least 10 civilians have been killed each month in 2024 due to airstrikes and attacks.
While people in IDP camps can survive with humanitarian assistance, those displaced in forests and plantations in remote areas remains far from receiving such assistance, he said.
“Those who haven’t reached the IDP camps have limited access to aid. Aid organizations can only help if they can reach these areas. In places they can’t reach, people rely on natural resources and the food they bring with them to survive,” Saw Nanda Hsue explained.
Three years after the military coup in Myanmar, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that one-third of the country’s population— some 18.6 million people —are in need of humanitarian assistance as a result of the conflicts.
This includes 6 million children who are affected by homelessness, lack of access to medical care and education, food insecurity, malnutrition and lack of psychological protection.
Sent by IMNA.
