An interview with a local man from Bhamo, who is assisting Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), about the urgent emergency aid needed and the challenges faced by locals displaced by the battle to capture Bhamo.
Locals from Bhamo have been displaced for over a month due to the Kachin Independence Army (KIA)’s battle to capture the town. They are facing numerous difficulties in the shelters where they are staying, as they have not received any aid.
After the KIA and allied forces launched an offensive to capture Bhamo on 4 December 2024, hundreds of thousands of locals have fled to the north and south of Bhamo, as well as to the other side of the Ayeyarwady River.
The displaced people from around 30 villages, including Myalel, Hsinhkan, Kwaytgyi, Han Htet, Man Ma Kauk, Kaung Tone, Supokekone, Mantae, Mone Khaung, Lai Kar, and Mone Dane villages along the Ayeyarwady River to the south of Bhamo, are sheltering in churches, monasteries, and the homes of relatives. They are in urgent need of aid.
Kachin News Group (KNG) interviewed a local resident from Bhamo, who has been actively assisting internally displaced persons, about their struggles amidst the communication difficulties faced by displaced people and the emergency assistance they urgently need.
Q: Given that Bhamo IDPs have been displaced for an extended period, what is their current situation? Where are they seeking refuge?
A: In the upper area, thousands of IDPs are taking refuge throughout Dawphoneyan and Laiza. The number of IDPs seeking shelter in the western part of Bhamo ranges from around 500 to 1,000. In the lower part of Bhamo, including areas such as Myalae, Manthar, Hanhtet, Mong Khaung, and Monedainpar, there are also thousands of displaced people.
Q: Where are the IDPs currently sheltering?
A: Recently, during our trip to provide emergency aid, we observed that the IDPs are mostly taking shelter in the homes of their relatives. Some are also living in tents on vacant land.
Q: What are the main challenges faced by the IDPs, and what kind of aid do they need?
A: Although they are currently managing as best as they can, this situation won’t be sustainable in the long run. Some families don’t have basic necessities like clothes or blankets. As of the end of January, some still haven’t been able to contact their family members. Many don’t even have pots or dishes to cook with. The most pressing issue, however, is the lack of food.
Q: Are they receiving the necessary medications for the elderly, children, and pregnant women?
A: Among those facing difficulties are the elderly, babies, and pregnant women. The main challenge is that they have had to shelter in the forests, with no access to necessary medicines for their health. They initially believed they would return home after one or two weeks of displacement, but due to ongoing fighting, they are unable to do so. If the displacement continues for a longer period, their situation will only become more difficult.
Q: How do the IDPs receive aid?
A: Aid does not reach all displacement areas. In some places with access to assistance, only about 200 out of thousands receive assistance. In other areas, around 600-700 displaced people are helped. The main thing is to give priority to helping those who face more difficulty.
Q: Why are aid workers unable to assist all the IDPs?
A: The main issue is financial difficulty. It’s difficult to withdraw cash, and even when donors are available, there are no places to access funds. There is a shortage of Myanmar currency due to the closure of banks. Even in Myitkyina, no banks are operational, and the same is true across Kachin State. As a result, we have to carry money from Yangon with great difficulty and use it when needed.
Q: Are these difficulties caused by phone line and internet outages?
A: That’s correct. There have been ongoing phone outages for a long time, making it difficult for families to reconnect. These outages also create challenges when trying to withdraw money.
Q: What is the total number of IDPs displaced by the fighting in Bhamo?
A: The total number of IDPs is estimated to be between 50,000 and 100,000.
Sent by KNG
