700 out of 1,700 internally displaced people (IDPs) sheltering in Theinkhun Village Tract in Tanintharyi Township are suffering from diarrhoea in an outbreak of the disease that started in mid-January 2025.
An official from the Nway Oo Myittar (Spring Love) IDP aid organisation said: “Out of around 1,700 IDPs, around 700 are suffering from diarrhoea. The infected range in age from infants to the elderly, but so far, there have been no reported deaths due to the disease.”
Though there have not yet been any deaths from diarrhoea, the IDPs in Theinkhun Village Tract are concerned because of the rapid spread of diarrhoea cases in the IDP population.
The IDPs have fled from fighting in and around the Theinkun Village Tract villages of Theinkhun, Chaunghnitpauk, Htone Kha, and Theahpyu and are sheltering together in small groups in forested areas and orchards near to their villages.
Another aid worker helping the IDPs said to NMG: “Among the IDPs are families who fled with only the clothes on their backs when the fighting started. They are now living in forests and orchards because it's no longer safe in their home villages. I believe the diarrhoea infections are also linked to the hot weather. Even families who are not living close to each other are experiencing the spread of infection. This can definitely be considered an outbreak.”
The Nway Oo Myittar organisation has helped to prevent any fatalities amongst the IDPs by teaching them how to make saline solution for rehydration suffered as a result of diarrhoea and teaching them what precautions diarrhoea sufferers can take to ensure they are not too badly affected.
However due to challenges, such as reaching the area where the IDPs are sheltering, it has been impossible for the Nway Oo Myittar organisation to provide regular healthcare and support to the IDPs, according to one of the organisation's members.
She said: “The location of the Theinkhun IDPs is quite far from us. We can only reach them occasionally to provide healthcare support, but we are unable to do so regularly. To reach them, we must pass through junta strongholds, which makes the journey unsafe.”
According to aid workers, the IDPs in Theinkhun Village Tract are also in urgent need of food, medicine, clothing, and shelter.
Currently. it is impossible for the IDPs to return to their homes because fighting is ongoing in Theinkhun Village Tract and the junta is still using airstrikes in the area in an attempt to overpower local resistance groups.
