The surge of Karenni war-displaced people, who fled from escalation of Junta attacks in Karenni (Kayah) State, are seeking refuge in Hsihseng (Sisai) Township in southern Shan State with around 30,000, and help to find accommodation.
An aid worker told Kantarawaddy Times, "The most crucial need is accommodation for this large displaced population. It would be helpful to set up temporary tents for them. It has been over a month since their displacement, with some resorting to tarpaulin sheets as makeshift roofs, and there are individuals who have no choice but to sleep on the ground”.
Displaced individuals are currently finding temporary shelter in monasteries, rest houses, and churches, with some forced to sleep on the ground due to limited alternatives.
The Military Council, currently engaged in fierce fighting with resistance forces in Karenni State, is conducting airstrikes and shelling in civilian areas. As a result, numerous Karenni residents have sought refuge in southern Shan State and are in need of food assistance
The majority of displaced individuals arrived in Hsihseng using motorcycles. A person who left Loikaw mentioned the hardships of being unable to carry food, lacking support, and facing scarce employment opportunities, leading to difficulties in sustaining their livelihood.
"We're staying at the Oattayaryoan monastery, as the camps for internally displaced people (IDPs) are crowded. Although we can stay there, we're not getting any extra support, and we have to figure out our sustenance. So far we haven't received any aid”, he said.
Within the displaced population, there are individuals with poor health and chronic diseases, necessitating the provision of beds, sheets, and blankets.
.In response to an inquiry from Kantarawaddy Times, the Karenni State Interim Executive Council (IEC) stated that the number of displaced individuals has increased to approximately 300,000 due to conflicts at the border of Karenni and Shan states since the military coup.