Following the military council troops' combat operations, health workers reported increasing obstacles to providing healthcare to the internally displaced persons (IDPs) who remain in the eastern part of Demoso township. The area experiences frequent fighting, making it increasingly difficult to provide essential healthcare to the affected population.
Since early March, the Military Council troops have been engaged in combat operations in the eastern part of Demoso Township, located in Karenni State. The intense and frequent battles with the Karenni local defense forces have resulted in the majority of IDPs fleeing once again, leaving only a small number of IDPs choosing to remain in the area.
A female health worker, who is currently treating the IDPs, expressed dismay that after the departure of previous healthcare providers to other locations, this left them short of staff and unable to adequately provide healthcare services to the remaining IDPs.
"I feel that the current situation is not safe. Everyone is avoiding the war. The health workers are also avoiding the war. Because of that, I have to say that there are not enough health workers to care for the rest of the IDPs," she said.
She also expressed concerns that providing healthcare for the IDPs will become increasingly challenging in the long run.
"We face numerous challenges, including rising price of medicine and transportation obstacles. Anticipated medicine shortages further compound the potential difficulties in accessing healthcare for the public,” she said.
An IDP mother of children shared her perspective, highlighting the difficulties faced when the elderly and children fall ill due, to the absence of available health workers.
"We are facing a shortage of medicine in this area, partly due to the lack of healthcare workers. The situation becomes even more challenging when children and the elderly fall ill, as it is difficult to provide care for them due to the distant locations," said an IDP mother with children.
At present, the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF) has issued a public appeal, advising against returning to the village due to the presence of Military Council troops, and ongoing combat operations in the villages located in the eastern part of Demoso township.
However, there remains an ongoing and crucial need for food and medicine for the IDPs who are once again fleeing the conflict and the locals.
