June 4th, 2022
The number of the Karenni refugees killed due to a shortage of foods and health problem is likely to be higher than the number of those killed in the armed conflicts, said Ba Nyar, Director of the Karenni Human Rights Group (KNHRG) told the KT after a press conference on the humanitarian crisis in Karenni State on May 30th.
“The number of deaths in our state may go up significantly if the current situation continues. A child from the IDP camp died of diarrhea. This is just the beginning,” he says.
Currently, the refugees are in need of help. The relevant international organizations need to provide aid to the IDPs.
Especially, the refugees in Demawso and Phruso are worrying about a shortage of food as they cannot do farming in the growing season, said a refugee from the west of Demawso.
The number of deaths may increase due to the military council’s ban on the transportation of rations, a shortage of medicines, malnutrition and natural disaster.
“We are looking forward to cash assistance. We have to earn our living if cash assistance is not sufficient. We have no income. We are worrying about a shortage of food,” a female refugee says.
According to the list compiled by the human rights organization, the total number of civilian deaths has exceeded 200. The actual number of deaths may be higher than that.
“According to the lists, the civilians were killed by the military council, landmine explosions, mass killings and heavy shelling. There are a lot of deaths at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp. According to the list, the number of those killed at the camp is nearly 500. According to the current list, the number of deaths is over 200, he added.
The people from the IDP camp died due to COVID-19 and a shortage of medicines. The number of deaths of older persons is higher.
More than half of the total population in Karenni State are the IDPs.
Sent by Maw Oo Myar (Kantarawaddy Times).