July 4th, 2022
The Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG) has called for relief efforts for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) fleeing fighting between the State Administration Council (SAC) forces and coalition forces of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the Karen National Defence Organization (KNDO) and People’s Defence Forces (PDF) in the areas of the Karen National Union (KNU) brigades.
“We would like to call on the respective groups to either provide safety or protection for the IDPs,” said Saw Nanda Hsue, spokesperson for the KHRG.
Currently, fighting in KNU Brigade 1 (Thaton District), Brigade 2 (Toungoo District), Brigade 3 (Nyaung Lay Pin District), Brigade 4 (Myeik-Dawei District), Brigade 5 (Mutraw-Hpapun District) and Brigade 6 (Dooplaya District) has forced many locals to flee to nearby areas and forests, and they are in need of assistance as well as food and shelter, added Saw Nanda Hsue.
“Also in Karen State, not only KNU Brigade 6 is currently fighting but also other brigades. The number of IDPs is also increasing. They need humanitarian assistance as they face various difficulties, especially during the rainy season. Therefore, we need to do more to get help from the relevant groups and reach out to the people in need,” he said.
According to KHRG, the IDPs are suffering from food shortages due to the current fighting not only in KNU Brigade 6 but also in Brigade 4 in Myeik-Dawei District.
“People are still fleeing because military activities are continuing. The IDPs are currenlty in need of humanitarian assistance and are suffering from food shortages,” said Saw Nanda Hsue.
Therefore, the IDPs need basic humanitarian assistance such as food and shelter, said the KHRG spokesperson.
Among the IDPs are children, the elderly, newborns and pregnant women, who are in need of medical care in addition to food and shelter.
“What they need now is food and medicine. As far as we know, these are more important than anything else. They also need shelter because the number of people fleeing the fighting is expected to increase. If the situation continues like this, the number of IDPs will increase day by day,” said a spokesperson for a Karen social welfare group about the situation of IDPs in KNU’s Brigade 3 in Nyaung Lay Pin District.
Currently, the IDPs are living in the mountains and facing insecurity and diseases as it is the rainy season, the spokesperson added.
“Many children get sick at this time of the year. Elderly people, newborns, pregnant women and people with disabilities are also among them. They also suffer from mosquito bites during the monsoon season. It is very difficult to live in a tent with a tarpaulin especially when the wind blows and it rains in torrents.” he said.
It is reported that more than 170,000 people have fled the fighting in the KNU brigade districts since the military coup.
However, the KHRG said it was difficult to establish the exact population figure, although that the number of IDPs fleeing the ongoing fighting could rise further.
In the meantime, Karen civil society organizations and donors are providing food and shelter for the IDPs.
However, KHRG called on all relevant groups to provide the long-term livelihood support for the IDPs if the conflict continues unabated.
Sent by NMG