Kayah State: A People on the Run

Words on a page, images on the screen, videos from a rough smart phone in the rain. It’s hard to convey yet another message over these internet lines that properly convey the heart of how drastic and dire the situation is downwardly spiraling into. Urgent pleas are coming to us at an increasing rate, as soldiers continue their assault on the civilians of the country. Although public executions in the street have declined, the military is now favoring airstrikes, burning food supplies and cutting off water sources, abduction and torture campaigns, and driving the entire populations of towns into the forest and jungles… all the worse now that the monsoons have started.

We have been trying for days to get in touch with our volunteer contact coordinating relief around the Kayah area. The message finally came in today, the brevity all she had time for. She also shared the following photos and videos. Any funds you share will go towards the purchase and transport of supplies she is asking for.

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“I am seeing thousands of Internally Displaced Person (IDP) between Shan state and Kayah states border, including pregnant mothers and children. They all urgently need help. The monsoon now in season, there was a downpour a few days ago and they are struggling with little supply. The emergency needs are Rice, Dry Food and Medicines for diarrhea and colds. Water purifying agents or tablets are also needed since the water they have are all red as you can see in the picture.”