The Shan State Joint Action Committee (SSJAC) donated food rations worth around Ks 20 million to internally displaced persons (IDPs) taking shelter in nearby monasteries after fighting broke out between the Tatmadaw, the Northern Alliance members, and the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) in Namtu Township, northern Shan State.
The Amyotha Hluttaw MP Sai Wan Leng Kham from Lashio District said the SSJAC donated the food rations to Man San Kyaung Haung Monastery in Namtu Township and Moe Tay Monastery and Aung Mingalar Boedaw Monastery in Hsipaw Township on July 18 and 19.
“As SSJAC delegation, we, the 12 people, went to donate the aids. We entrusted the rice and food rations to the IDP Committee for the IDPs in Hsipaw and Namtu. Also, we have respectively donated over seven million kyats to the IDP Committee so that they can spend it when the IDPs arrive,” said Sai Wan Leng Kham.
Seven million kyats and 20 rice bags were donated to around 600 IDPs in Man San Monastery on July 18. A total of Ks 500,000 and five rice bags were donated to over 100 IDPs in Aung Mingalar Boedaw Monastery in Hsipaw on July 19 and one million kyats and ten rice bags were donated to over 500 IDPs in Moe Tay Monastery. A total of Ks 300,000 and ten rice bags were also donated to over 650 IDPs in Wan Li Monastery in Namtu.
Hsipaw resident Sai Sai said the IDPs from Man San Monastery and Aung Mingalar Boedaw Monastery have returned home as fighting has stopped their areas and only a few IDPs are left in Moe Tay Monastery.
Local residents are worried over a resume in fighting as the Tatmadaw columns have taken shelter in Man San Group after the ethnic armed groups respectively fled on Thursday.
