An interview with a displaced person from Nam Mun about hardships faced by people displaced by fighting in Inn Taw Gyi area
Over 3,000 displaced locals from Nam Mun town have been displaced for more than four months due to fighting between the military junta forces and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in the Indawgyi area of Mohnyin District, Kachin State. The displaced residents say they are in urgent need of assistance.
Since June, fighting has taken place between the two sides near villages like Nyaung Pin, Whay Lon, and Chaung Wa, located 2-3 miles from Nam Mun. Local residents have fled to villages in the Indawgyi area due to security concerns.
Meanwhile, displaced people report that a group known as Shanni people’s militia, operating under the military council in the Inn Taw Gyi area has been conducting military operations within Nam Mun town, recruiting soldiers, practicing racial discrimination, and arbitrarily arresting and interrogating residents under suspicion.
Moreover, the displaced people say that approximately 3,000 displaced people from Nam Mun are still unable to return home because the Shanni militia has occupied empty houses, churches, and schools in the deserted villages. They have conducted military operations there as tensions remain with local resistance forces.
To learn more about the situation of Nam Mun residents and the hardships they face in their current displacement location, Kachin News Group (KNG) interviewed a displaced resident from Nam Mun.
Q: Now that you’ve been displaced for over four months, can you tell us about the current hardships you face as an IDP?
A: When we first fled our homes, some of us brought about a month’s worth of food supplies. Not everyone could bring supplies though. Whatever we brought has been used up over these past three months. Meanwhile, we’re receiving almost no aid. We need food above all. We also have difficulty getting necessary medicine and finding shelter.
Q: Is your current location difficult to access? Where are you currently taking shelter?
A: It’s become very difficult for Nam Mun residents to travel to Myitkyina and other major cities. The armed groups heavily check all the routes from here, and some roads are still closed. Previously, people usually traveled to Hpakant. But now that route is also inaccessible, which makes things even more difficult. With commodity prices skyrocketing these days, we’re facing severe hardships.”
Q: Have all residents of Nam Mun been displaced? How many IDPs are there in total?
A: People have fled from Sa Nun Kone, Hin Thar, and other villages in Nam Mun. There are over 2,000 displaced Shan and Bamar people. There are over one thousand Kachins from various religious backgrounds. There are about 200 households in total. Altogether, there are over three thousand IDPs. The displaced people are scattered in different locations – some are sheltering in villages near Nam Mun town, while others have fled to urban areas.
Q: Which organizations are currently providing aid?
A: Since the phone lines were cut, we haven’t been able to contact any organizations. I think that’s partly why no one knows about our situation. We weren’t getting much aid even before this. As for assistance, KBC came once, and charity groups also came once. Those are the only two times we’ve received aid.
Q: What are the most urgent needs?
A: Above all, we need food. We’re struggling with food, but if fighting breaks out again, we IDPs will face even greater hardship. Whatever happens, if we have food supplies, we can flee anywhere regardless of the situation. Our location has absolutely no security. Anything could happen at any time. This is what we IDPs are most worried about.
Q: What’s the military situation like in that area?
A: In this area, some IDPs have been sheltering in KIA-controlled territories for the past two months. We’re not too worried about ground battles, but we’re very concerned about airstrikes. We’re also worried about artillery shells from nearby military camps hitting us.
Q: What’s the current education situation for students among the IDPs?
A: As for education, some people with better education in the IDP camps are teaching. Some families, having no choice, have sent their children to military council-operated schools. That’s how they’re managing education.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to add?
A: If possible, I’d like to request organizations that are able to help to please provide whatever assistance they can to support us IDPs in our areas of difficulty.
Sent by KNG.
