CNI News

1 Dec 2022

Internally displaced persons in Kayah (Karenni) State are running out of foodstuffs and consumer products for women, an IDP woman told the CNI.

As armed clashes have broken out in Kayah (Karenni) State, there are many IDPs including pregnant women, she added.

She said, "There are many women among the IDPs. Many of them are pregnant while others have young children. There are shortages of everything but foodstuffs, consumer products for women and medicines are desperately needed. If these items can be provided, they will be more convenient."

Rice donation for IDPs in Karenni State. (Network for Karenni IDPs)

The IDPs in Saungkaing Village between Moebye and Kontha have not been able to return home.

Although it is the harvesting season, they are not able to return home to harvest their crops.

Conflicts have broken out in Kayah State and the military is firing heavy weapon shells in the state, the spokesperson of the KNDF told the CNI.

A house damaged during fighting in Kayah State.

He said, "The military is firing heavy weapon shells in Kayah State almost every day. Whether there are armed clashes or not, they are firing heavy weapons. Some local residents were displaced while others are still living in their villages. The military sometimes fire heavy weapons into villages where residents are still living. However, we haven't heard any news about human casualties."

Since 1st February, 2021, fighting has broken out between the Myanmar military and the joint forces of the KNDF, the KA, Moebye PDF, Phekhon PDG and the KRU.

Since then, the number of IDPs has increased to 1,650,611 including 126,000 in Demoso Township, which has the largest IDP population in Kayah State, according to ISP Myanmar.