The residents who previously fled the war and have now returned to Kazu Yang village in Waingmaw Township, located in Kachin State, are encountering difficulties in obtaining water for their daily needs in the newly established village area.
Some of the repatriated locals are utilizing the pre-existing wells, while others who are attempting to drill new artesian wells are facing significant difficulties, a local woman told Myitkyina News Journal.
"The process of drilling and installing a water pump is not a simple matter. The water source is situated too far away, and despite my efforts to dig a well, I was unable to obtain any water”, she said.
As Da Bat Creek is located nearby, accessing underground water requires drilling to a depth of approximately 45 feet. However, the majority of the artesian wells in the village can only be dug to a maximum depth of 35 feet. This can result in a shortage of water during the summer when the water level may be insufficient to reach the shallower wells.
The World Food Program (WFP) has installed 4 water pumps in the recently established village area by drilling underground water. However, the water flow rate is inadequate, and some houses are located too far away from the pumps, resulting in inconvenience for the villagers, another local said.
The cost of drilling and installing a water pump in the village ranges from 300000 to 400000 kyats.
Furthermore, since not all repatriated families have acquired homes of their own yet, it is crucial to receive urgent helps to secure their accommodations before the onset of the rainy season, locals pointed out.
"Returning to our village is only meaningful if we have a proper place to call home. It would be greatly appreciated if we could receive assistance in securing accommodations for our fellow villagers”, a displace woman said.
Around 100 families have already resettled in Kazu Yang village, and there are still more refugees expected to return.
Kazu Yang village is situated along the Waingmaw-Lai Zar highway and its inhabitants were displaced since 2011 as a result of intense conflict between the Military Council and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). After more than a decade, in February of this year, the villagers finally returned home with their own resettlement plans.
