Due to the absence of a school in Mali Sut Yang village along the Myitkyina-Sinbo highway, families with students who are IDP returnees will choose to return to the original Si Tar Pu IDP camp in Myitkyina.
The local people of Mali Sut Yang, who had been displaced from the war, returned to their homes on April 24 of this year after spending a decade in the Si Tar Pu KBC IDP camp in Myitkyina Township.
According to a resident of Mali Sut Yang, as it is currently in the rehabilitation period, a school has not been constructed yet to provide the education of the children. Therefore, the officials have agreed to approve the request and allow the IDPs to return to the original camp.
A resident of Mali Sut Yang expressed, “Although it may not be a public school, we have had several discussions to reopen the primary school through the church. However, we lack assistance to rebuild the school, and there is a shortage of teachers. As a result, we are compelled to return to the original IDP camp.”
Only families with students, totaling around 50 students, are choosing to reside in the IDP camp.
"Over there, we don't have proper houses, which makes things even more challenging. We lived under makeshift tarpaulin shelters. We are eagerly awaiting the reconstruction of schools. We are returning here because, with no teachers available and no progress until the school reopens, we find it preferable to be here," shared an IDP mother with KNG.
In the village, approximately 20 families comprising around 100 individuals continue to reside and engage in farming activities for their livelihood.
The IDPs from Mali Sut Yang sought refuge in the Si Tar Pu KBC IDP camp on October 13, 2011, due to the resurgent fighting between the Military Council and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). After more than 10 years, they were able to return to their homes on April 24, 2023.
By the end of May, approximately half of the households had decided to return to the original IDP camp, primarily due to the educational needs of the children.
