Namhsan Internally Displaced Persons IDPs in Dire Need of Supplies

By Kyaw Ko Ko / Myanmar Times | January 17, 2017

Scores of internally displaced persons (IDP) from the ethnic Palaung community are in dire need of food and medical supplies after they fled Namhsan amid fierce fighting between the military and armed ethnic groups.

The IDPs, numbering about 150, are currently seeking refuge at the Zayanngyi monastery in Mandalay where supplies are running dangerously low, according to locals trying to provide assistance. The IDPs, mostly women, infants and children, arrived on January 14.

The monastery’s assistant Sayadaw U Wiriya said yesterday that the IDPs and are in need of medical supplies, food and blankets.

U Wiriya said a donor gave the monastery food but that will run out today.

“The IDPs who arrived at our monastery include more than 20 children and also babies. Currently, we are hosting them in our monastery for their convenience. We were able to give them food

[yesterday] only because a donor provided supplies for them. But assistance is still needed,” he said. “The adults among the IDPs are very frightened because of the fighting. Some are in shock, and start when they hear loud sounds.”

The Palaung Social Aid Association in Mandalay donated four sacks of rice and K2,500 for each IDP, said U Wiriya, adding that it costs more than K75,000 to pay for one meal to feed the IDPs.

He said the IDPs are also badly in need of blankets as it is winter.

U Wiriya said there are 93 IDPs who are still at the monastery as of yesterday after the rest sought refuge in the homes of relatives and friends.

Fighting broke out between the military and the ethnic armed groups around Namhsan in northern Shan State on January 10. Heavy artillery was reportedly used.

Eight civilians were reportedly injured and two killed while schools, hospital and markets were closed.

“Villages were destroyed and my house shook each time there was firing of heavy artillery. I had to flee,” said a victim, Daw Hein Thiri May.

Some of the IDPs said they fear there will be more fighting in the region, resulting in more people forced to leave Namhsan for nearby villages and other cities.

Translation by Win Thaw Tar and Kyaw Soe Htet

This article originally appeared on Myanmar Times on January 17, 2017.