An Increase among Displaced Peoples in Karenni State
We are sending support to a ground team located on the Thai border who are currently helping thousands of villagers fleeing from the Burmese military’s airstrikes and mortar attacks. However, our funds are not sufficient to fund their full needs. Please take a moment to read the following report which was sent by our local partner, and consider helping our mission to provide safety to these fleeing villagers, with a contribution of any size.
“As the whole population in one camp have already fled into Thai side and social service like healthcare and camp administration does not function like before, these new arrivals had to cross border into the temporary shelter where the IDPs are staying.”
A jet fighter of the military junta dropped bombs on IDPs camp located in Karenni state, while an SAC base began launching 120mm mortar into the IDP camp area.
IDPs [Internally Displaced Persons] had to run aimlessly before dawn from the airstrikes not knowing where to go! On the same day, nearly 4000 IDPs fled across the border to a Karenni refugee camp where they are taking refuge now. When they firstly arrived, the IDPs were asked to stay in a football ground area inside the refugee camp and they were later moved to a temporary shelter outside the refugee camp where it is closer to the border point.
Currently, the displaced individuals who are staying in the temporary shelter as set by the Thai authority are still building their makeshift shelter. They are not allowed to cook on their own but to cook together for the entire population in one place. The refugee camp committee and volunteering groups are responsible for managing cooking and delivering food for these IDPs. Local INGOs/NGOs and humanitarian groups are providing emergency assistance to these displaced people including food, drinking water, shelter materials (tarpaulins), blankets, hygiene kit, etc.
After the bombardment, there are still new arrivals coming to the border from inside the Karenni State. From Mid-July to this date, there are about 100 civilians arrived in Daw Noe Ku camp from inside Karenni State, and some more are still on the way to the border. As the whole population in one camp have already fled into Thai side and social service like healthcare and camp administration does not function like before, these new arrivals had to cross border into the temporary shelter where the IDPs are staying.
The total number of IDPs who are staying in the temporary sheltering camp now comes to 3886. However, the number is not finalized yet as there are some more IDPs who are temporarily sheltered by their relatives after they fled from Daw Noe Ku bombardment.
In one township in Karenni that had been relatively peaceful before, fighting flared up which caused 90% of the local population and existing IDPs to similiarly flee into border and Thailand. More than 4,800 people have fled into Thailand's Khun Yuam and Mae Sariang districts in four different temporary shelter areas. Not all the locals and IDPs could cross the border into Thailand due to border crossing restriction.
An estimate of 3,300 IDPs from the existing 8 IDPs camps and local villages are still hiding in jungle while some moved to the IDPs camps closer to the border. Among them are residents who fled followed by the military junta's airstrikes and scorched earth military operation in these areas.
The number of IDPs population is still unstable as the IDPs continue to move from one place to another within the township in seeking for more secure places. Also, there are still more IDPs who are trying to reach to the border. Some IDPs are hiding deep in the jungle where it is harder to reach them.
Basic Urgent Needs
While there are various needs for the displaced persons along the border, some basic urgent needs other than rice are as follow to help prevent diseases and make lives a little bit better for IDPs along the border.
i. Mosquito Nets and Blankets
As it is monsoon season now, areas where IDPs are taking shelter are infested with mosquitoes that carry diseases such as malaria and dengue. Mosquito nets prevent mosquito bites and reduce risks for malaria, dengue and other mosquito-related diseases.
Blankets are also needed as most families could not bring them when fleeing. Blankets affordable to us tend to come in small sizes which makes it necessary to issue two pieces per person for colder weather. Rainy season is not very cold at night; but distributing blankets now will serve the purpose for upcoming winter which is only two months away.
ii. Tarpaulins
Tarpaulins are in constant needs because the do not last more than 4 months in extreme weather with constant heat and rain and are prone to be punctured. They only come in small sizes (at most 6m x 8m) and therefore each household needs at least 2 pieces.
iii. Veggies
We usually do not provide vegetables to IDPs due to high cost and short shelve life. But because local Thai authorities would not allow households to cook on their own but through a communal kitchen to prevent a sense of permanence for the IDPs. Therefore, families cannot find vegetable for their own nor can they find enough for the entire IDPs populations. As such, aid groups have solicited support for vegetable to provide the IDPs at that particular location.
Request
We would like to request support for mosquito nets, blankets, tarpaulins, hygiene kits, and transportation costs for IDPs. This township hosts most of the newly displaced persons. It is harder to access IDPs sites in this township. Therefore, we would like to prioritize this. Amidst the heart-wrenching accounts of displacement and turmoil, it's a reminder that compassion knows no borders. The stories of those who have fled the violence, seeking safety and solace, call for our empathy and action. These individuals, thrust into uncertainty, are in dire need of basic essentials to weather the storm of displacement. As we stand on the cusp of their journey, our collective support can weave a safety net of mosquito nets, blankets, tarpaulins, and hygiene kits. In the face of adversity, a simple gesture can bring about profound change. If these words resonate with you, I urge you to consider extending your compassion through a donation of any amount. Your contribution, no matter how small, can be a beacon of hope for those who find themselves in the shadows of displacement, illuminating their path towards a better tomorrow.
For those willing to support this need, please consider the following figures, keeping in mind that we are trying to support over 3,000 people:
Mosquito Net: $4
Blanket: $4
Hygiene Kit: $3
Tarpaulin: $57