June 4th, 2022
The refugees taking shelter in the rural areas and forests in Karenni State are facing a shortage of food as they have no access to the aid provided by the World Food Programme (WFP), according to the refugees.
Only the people in downtown Loikaw have access to the rations and utensils provided by the WPF.
A volunteer helping the Karenni IDPs who declined to be named said: “The IDPs in Loikaw are not facing difficulties. I want the aid organizations to make donations in Demawso, Phruso, Dawngankhar and Nanmalkhone. Many people there are facing difficulties. The military fired a lot of heavy weapons from Loikaw.”
The aid donated by the WFP for a household are: a bag of rice, two viss of edible oil, two blankets, two carpets, a basket, pots and plates, waterproof sheets, menstrual pads and underwear. The WFP has provided aid to them twice, a local from downtown Loikaw. The IDPs need to submit the application forms to the WFP together with the copies of the NRC card and the household census.”
The military council allows the aid organizations including the WFP to go to the designated places.
A CDM teacher from the liberated areas in Karenni State said: “Aid organizations have to go to the designated places as they cannot get security cover. We don’t ask for help as we are taking shelter in the liberated area. We have to do it on a self-reliant basis.”
In addition, the people from downtown Loikaw, who have received aid from the WFP resold the aid to the refugees organizations, according to some refugee organizations.
An official of the Karenni Support Team (KNST) which is the Karenni Rural and Pekon Zone aid organization said: “We have to donate rations by buying a bag of rice at a price of Ks-30,000, a waterproof sheet at a price of Ks-15,000 and edible oil at a price of Ks-20,000 doanted by the WFP. We would like to call on relevant NGOs to distribute aid in downtown unnecessarily. The materials donated by the NGOs are being sold at the market. They can make donations through local organizations even if they themselves cannot go there.
In addition to Karenni State, the WFP is carrying out the distribution of aid in Sagaing Region, Magway Region and Chin State at the designated places permitted by the military, under the pretext of security.
There is widespread criticism among the public, the refugees and refugee organizations in most of the region as the WFP’s aid does not reach those in need.
Sent by the NMG.