An interview with a female volunteer who is engaged in the relief and rescue works in Karenni State
September 3rd, 2022
Among the people who have experienced the armed conflicts and brutal killings committed by the military council are innocent civilians.
Ma Thazin Moe (not real name) is one of the persons who are engaging in the relief and rescue works for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and the people hit by the artillery shells. She is participating in the Mobye Rescue Team. The Shan News interviewed Ma Thazin Moe’s difficulties and challenges she faces during the rescue works as she is a woman.
Q: When was Mobye Rescue Team formed? How long have you been participating in the team?
A: The team is formed following the coup. Since inception, I have joined the team. I have been engaging in the team for over one year.
Q: Did you engage in philanthropic work before the coup?
A: Before the coup, I worked as a staff. Following the coup, I joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM). Then, I began to engage in philanthropic work.
Q: Why do you join the Mobye Rescue Team?
A: After the coup, I joined the protests. At that time, Mobye Rescue Team had not emerged yet. Some protest youths turned to the armed struggle. Then, the remaining persons started to form the Mobye Rescue Team. At that time, we joined the training courses. Very soon, fighting took place in our area. Then, we started our recuse works.
Q: What kinds of persons does our team provide aid for?
A: We mainly provide aid to the IDPs. We help the public who are injured in the fighting. This is our main function. At present, we are helping the IDPs.
Q: Does Mobye Rescue Team have female members?
A: Our team helps the IDPs. The team has five female members. We have a lot of members. Most of the members are locals from Mobye.
Q: As a woman, what kinds of challenges do you face when helping the IDPs?
A: We are helping the IDPs like so. However, we become the bad ones for the military council. From its standpoint, our act is negative. We are concerned about our security. We have gone into hiding. We have to provide aid to the IDPs while hiding. We have to stay in the forests. We don’t dare to sleep in our houses. We feel unsafe. We have a lot of difficulties. As a woman, I am fearful of my movement. Like men, I am not ok. Women face more difficulties as it is a philanthropic organization.
Q: Have you experienced the military council’s inspections? What is your current difficulty?
A: So far, I have not experienced it. I am helping the IDPs quietly. Commodity prices and medicine prices have increased. We provide health care for the IDPs at the camps. We face difficulty in transportation and the availability of medicines. Now we face a lot of difficulties.
Q: Have you ever gone to the battlefield for rescue work?
A: We went on field trips. I helped the people stranded in the battle field and the people injured by heavy weapons. Then, the stranded people were moved to safer places. I have to rescue them by risking my life despite my concerns.
Q: At present, the commodity prices have soared. The Myanmar currency is depreciating. Are there donors for the IDPs?
A: There are very few donors. All the people are in a difficult position. The availability of medicine and food is very difficult. There is a growing concern about transportation.
Q: Which message do you want to convey to donors and those who are providing aid?
A: It is very difficult for the IDPs in Mobye of Karenni State to get medicines and food rations. We also face difficult road access. It will be okay for us to help the IDPs only when we have money. I would like to request the people to donate money.
Sent by Shan News