Shan IDPs in Myitkyina need help

CNI News

19 July 2025

Shan ethnic people in the IDP camps in Myitkyina need food, shelter, health and education assistance, the Shan Ethnic IDPs Assistance Committee told CNI News. 

The Shan ethnic IDPs there are mainly needing educational and health assistance, according to an official of the Shan ethnic IDP assistance committee.

While seeing a Shan ethnic IDP camp

“Currently, we have eight monasteries in Shwe Pyitha Ward including  Shan Dhamma Yon (community hall for religious purposes) in Khemathiri Ward,in Myitkyina. We have opened refugee camps for Shan ethnic groups there. In total, there are 11. There are about 4,000 IDPs. There are about 700 households. People from our Shan State have been fleeing battles since July, 2024. Due to the battles between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the KIA/PDF joint forces, the Shan ethnic IDPs arrived here. Most of them came from Tarlaw, Waingmaw, Bhamo,Inle and Pharkant. They mainly need iron corrugated sheets because it's the rainy season. I want the children of the IDPs to be educated. And they need healthcare as well." he said.

There are more than 100 IDP camps in Myitkyina Township, Kachin State and the Kachin State government said that it could not provide the IDPs with everything they needed, according to the IDPs.

Currently, battles are severely breaking out between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the KIA/PDF joint forces in Hparkant and Bhamo, Kachin State.