Due to ongoing fighting along the Myitkyina-Bhamo road in Kachin State, people from four villages who had taken refuge in Dawthponeyan want to go back home and resume hillside farming. However, their movement is currently restricted.
A Dawthponeyan resident assisting the IDPs informed KNG that both armed groups have prevented the IDPs from Dinggar, Nawngwant, Khalar, and Teinjang villages in upper Dawthponeyan who wish to return and work on their hill-side farms.
"Their current challenge is their desire to return to their hillside farms that they established in the village. Despite having the option to escape the conflict in Bhamo, these IDPs are choosing to stay in Dawthponeyan to observe their hillside farms. The military hasn't established any checkpoints, but both armed groups have advised them not to venture unless absolutely necessary."
Among the present four villages, Dinggar and Khalar, two villages are facing restricted access, making it challenging for the IDPs to return to their homes and engage in farming activities.
The IDPs emphasized that their primary source of livelihood is hill-side farming, which they engage in every year. However, the hill-side farms that were abandoned due to the conflict are not currently accessible for cultivation, potentially leading to increased food scarcity in the upcoming years.
Furthermore, a Dinggar IDP who sought refuge at the Dawthponeyan KBC church compound stated that even though the IDPs have been displaced due to the conflict for over a month, they are already grappling with challenges related to food and shelter.
"The greatest difficulty we encounter revolves around food, especially rice. Additionally, we are grappling with living conditions. Everyone is sleeping on makeshift bedding spread across the floor. For the elderly, this arrangement becomes less comfortable over time. Their plan is to construct buildings after the initial 3 months of fleeing conflict. Hence, there is a present challenge concerning both food and shelter."
Starting around June, a series of clashes between the Military Council troops and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) have taken place, particularly impacting the region around Dinggar and Khalar villages.
At the moment, there is an absence of ongoing clashes between the two factions, yet an underlying military tension remains. Occasional episodes of indiscriminate artillery shell firing from the Military Council's 142nd Infantry Battalion are still observed. Furthermore, residents have had to face the tactic of using human shields during military operations. Fearing for their safety due to these circumstances, they chose to leave their homes.
Given these challenging circumstances, residents from Dinggar, Khalar, Nawngwant, and Teinjang, who are in close proximity to the military, have been forced to flee the conflict. Currently, 183 internally displaced families from these four villages have sought refuge in churches in Dawthponeyan village.
