July 25th, 2022
More than 6000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from ten villages in Taungpyauk circuit in Thayetchaung Township, Tanintharyi Region are suffering not only from bad weather conditions but also from food shortages during the rainy season, according to people who are helping them.
The displaced people suffer from war and have difficulty finding proper shelter because it rains all the time.
Since many of them are elderly pregnant women and children, they could be affected by malnutrition and other health problems, said a person helping the IDPs.
“There are many IDPs. Most of them are pregnant women, children and elderly people. Their living conditions are worse because it is the rainy season. For normal people, it is easy to go from one place to another, but for pregnant women it is not so easy. Food supplies are decreasing day by day. We are worried that they might be malnourished,” he told the Karen Information Center (KIC).
IDPs in Taungpyauk area fear contracting malaria, which can be caused by mosquitoes in the jungle, and facing food shortage during the rainy season.
Currently, there is only one youth medical team for treatment, in addition to medicines, IDP aid workers said.
“For pregnant women, the elderly and children, it is even more difficult because in the rainy season there is a risk of malaria from mosquito bites. In addition, there is no doctor or nurse in the entire area except for a medical team. At the same time, the sick IDPs may soon suffer from malnutrition. The lack of food weakens their immunity. As a result, they can easily get sick. Even before the rainy season, people in Taungpayuk circuit were severely affected by the war. They did not receive proper health care or educational opportunities. The area has only started to develop in the last three years,” he told the KIC.
Military council troops have entered the area since July 3rd and have continuously fired small and heavy weapons, forcing residents of ten villages – Yaybyat, Meike, Kyaukaing, Winkamawt, Kywechan, Lelsu, Yaepu, Byatwitha, Taungpyauk and Thaechaung Gyi – to safety. They also have difficulty buying food because junta soldiers block the roads for inspections.
Aid workers for Taungpyauk circuit said it is difficult for them to provide food to the people because there is no way to get to the area from other areas, The IDPs have to rely on the food they still have and cannot go outside to buy food. Therefore, they are worried that there will be food shortages in the near future.
Sent by KIC.