According to residents, twelve villages located in the southeastern region of Shwegu Township, Kachin State, require support in rehabilitating internally displaced people (IDPs) who are planning to return to their homes.
For nearly two months, approximately 10,000 local residents from 12 villages have been seeking refuge in the nearby forests, mountains, and fields. These villagers were forced to flee their homes after the Military Council troops carried out a combat operation, resulting in the complete destruction of their villages.
"We simply wish to make it back home before the rain comes. It's not ideal to stay in the fields, forests, and mountains when it's raining. That's why we're planning to go back home beforehand. All our houses were destroyed by fire, and now we have to start from scratch. We need a lot of help to rebuild our homes," an IDP man from Sithar village told KNG.
Furthermore, he mentioned that over 1,000 houses belonging to IDPs who wish to return to their homes have been left in ruins. These individuals are in urgent need of assistance, specifically zinc, roofing materials, and other essential building supplies, to rebuild their homes once they are able to return.
As the rainy season begins, the IDPs are now making preparations to return to their homes in May and early June this year.
According to the residents, the houses that were destroyed by the Military Council mainly consisted of zinc roofing and wooden structures. There were only a few flats and thatched houses among them.
"Currently, we're in the process of clearing our homes and small yards, preparing to return. Each of us will rebuild in our respective villages and around our houses. Unfortunately, the fire has left our villagers with nothing, as all the houses have been destroyed. We desperately require assistance to reconstruct our homes. Thatch is scarce in this area, making it inaccessible to us. Therefore, we urgently need zinc roofing for our houses," said another IDP woman.
Currently, it is reported that approximately six households from Mannar, Sithar, and Manwein villages are residing in temporary tents within the village.
The IDP from Sithar village added that due to the ongoing instability in the military situation, the affected individuals still feel anxious and concerned.
"In Mannar and Manwein, only a few houses, around four, five, or six, have been able to resume habitation. The situation remains unstable. Even at present, whenever an aircraft appears in the sky, they instinctively gaze upwards. Some individuals still hesitate to return home, gripped by fear of the impending column's resurgence," he said.
On March 21, a Military Council column consisting of approximately 300 troops entered villages in the southeastern part of Shwegu. They remained in the area for about 10 days, during which they set fire to people's homes and conducted aerial bombardments.
In Shwegu township, the following numbers of houses were destroyed by fire in each village: 129 houses in Manwein village, 100 houses in Sithar village, 57 houses in Mannar village, 41 houses in Tonekauk village, 211 houses in Sithaung village, 35 houses in Mankhar village, 111 houses in Simaw village, and 28 houses in Simugyi village. Additionally, 60 houses in Simulay village, 130 houses in Namlang village, and 37 houses in Naunglatgyi village were also affected by the fire.
