Ongoing conflicts in Karenni (Kayah) State have displaced hundreds of thousands, and those war refugees in Demoso Township urgently seek international assistance, particularly from the World Food Program (WFP).
War refugee Daw Sein Po Lyana recounted that the war-displaced camp in the western part of Demoso where she took refuge, often experienced food shortages, prompting her and fellow refugees to seek international assistance.
"Please do not abandon us. We need help to come as soon as possible, and we also want to receive the rights we deserve”, she said.
She shared her hope for international assistance, as the livelihood challenges of both her and the local community in Demoso have deteriorated significantly over the past two years due to the displacement caused by the war.
Currently, WFP is providing a monthly supply of essential food items like rice, oil, salt, and beans to internally displaced people (IDPs) seeking refuge in Loikaw Township, Karenni State.
"The places where aid is distributed are convenient, but our area has never received any assistance. We're all facing the same situation. When others receive support, it should be the same for us. We need aid to reach us too”, Daw Sein Po Lyana added.
U Johnny, a committee member responsible for a refugee camp, stated that as of now, the IDPs in Demoso have not received any aid from WFP.
"It's been over 2 years, almost 3 since the conflict began, but we've never received any support from WFP. They mentioned plans to assist Demoso earlier, but every time aid arrived, Demoso was left out. We know that providing aid in Demoso is part of WFP's plans”, he told Kantarawaddy Times.
The refugees also expressed their desire for international organizations to visit the IDP camps in person and witness the challenging conditions the refugees are facing in their struggle for survival.
"We want them to come and inspect every camp. We want them to see firsthand the difficult conditions we're living in, our struggles with food, and how we're trying to move forward. It would be great if they came”, Daw Romerna, a Demoso refugee said.
Kantarawaddy Times attempted to contact the relevant WFP field officer to inquire about the aid matter, but there was no response.
More than 250000 IDPs have been displaced due to the clashes in Karenni State, with the highest concentration in Demoso and Hpruso townships.
