In a fragile hut constructed from bamboo poles, two young women are getting ready for school. The hut, devoid of any walls and consists of just a roof, is the only shelter for the two teenage sisters, and schoolgirls.

One sister with a fair complexion is Maw Htwar Me Oo, a Grade 8 student, attending a school operating in a war-displaced camp on the border of Thailand and Karenni State.

In spite of all her current hardships and insecurity suffered by all IDPs and their lack of secure home, her thirst for education is unquenchable. Maw Htwar Me Oo expressed her aspiration to become a doctor in the future, aiming to provide healthcare to those in need.

Over 1000 individuals, including Htwar Me Oo, reside in the camp, with over 300 of them falling within the school-aged range of 10 to 18 years old.

Maw Htwar Me Oo hails from Dawtamagyi village in Demoso Township, Karenni State, and is the fourth of six sisters. It has been over two years since she left her homeland, becoming a displaced individual due to conflicts. She reflects on the disparities between her home and the camp.

"Throughout my time in the camp, I experienced feelings of worry and insecurity, which I kept to myself, as I hesitated to share with anyone. Whenever I had to travel for various reasons, fear would engulf me”, she said.

Residing in the camp alongside other internally displaced people (IDPs), she never experiences the comforting familiarity of home in this place.

Due to these sentiments, she rarely ventures beyond the camp, and when necessary, she only ventures out accompanied by friends or family members.

Maw Pha Me, another young girl in the camp, also shared that on certain nights, she couldn't bring herself to sleep alone in her hut, leading her to seek refuge at her friends' houses.

"I don't have the courage to sleep alone in my hut at night when I'm by myself. So I either share my sleeping space with my girl friends, or join them for the night”, she explained.

She is the only girl among five siblings. She resides in a petite bamboo hut measuring only 7 feet by 5 feet, topped with a tarpaulin sheet roof. Despite the cramped conditions, Maw Pha Me's family members have to arrange themselves in a row to sleep within that tiny hut at night.

As a result, her mother occasionally relocates to other camps for the night, leaving Maw Pha Me, a girl without her own room, to sleep at her friends' houses. She clarified that, in such instances, she opts for the homes of friends with fewer family members.

In the Karenni IDP camps, residents remain vigilant against potential airstrikes by the Military Council, prompting them to be prepared for relocation if deemed necessary.

In the camp where Maw Htwar Me Oo resides, the Junta Air Force aircraft conducted a bombing raid around midnight on July 11th, 2023.

Since becoming a displaced individual, Maw Htwar Me Oo has relocated to three different camps. She shared that her entire family had been displaced since the start of fighting in their home village. Initially, they sought refuge in an IDP camp near their village. However, due to frequent airstrikes and shelling in the vicinity, local schools could only operate intermittently. With a desire to continue her education, Maw Htwar Me Oo made the decision to move to a border camp where a school was established.

Maw Htwar Me Oo mentioned that certain women's aid organizations have supplied her with essential items required at the current shelter camp.

Like Maw Htwar Me Oo, Maw Bu Mar, a 20-year-old girl has also resided in multiple IDP camps. She shared her experiences, highlighting the challenges of living an unstable life filled with insecurities.

"As a displaced individual, my journey led me to wander through jungles, occasionally bathing in forest streams. In this life, insecurity became a constant companion. The cramped huts in the camps added to the discomfort, making my stay far from comforting”, she said.

The IDP camp she resides in is situated within the forest, requiring individuals from diverse areas to share bathroom and toilet facilities. She expressed feeling insecure due to this arrangement, and expressed a desire for separate restrooms for women.

Hailing from a small village in Demoso, she experienced displacement as a consequence of the war. Following this, she set out on a journey to the far away border region with some friends, determined to seize the opportunity to pursue her education.

The majority of tents and huts in the Karenni IDP camps provide minimal shelter, often consisting only of a roof without doors or walls. In the current camp where Maw Htwar Me Oo resides, the family huts are positioned closely, with little more than 10 feet of separation between them.

Following the Military Council's coup, the armed revolution in Karenni State has been ongoing since March 21st, 2021.

A number of women who moved to the border did so with the aspiration of advancing their education. Unlike in their villages, there is no artillery shelling at the border, giving them hope to pursue their education without disruption.

Hence, some determined girls, fueled by the desire to pursue education, take the risk of venturing into the IDP camps along the border, even without the company of family members or close friends, to attend school.

"I want to be with my family. On the other hand, I want to continue going to school”, Mi Mi, a Grade 7 schoolgirl told Kantarawaddy Times.

For nearly two years, she has been dwelling at the border. In the IDP camp where her family remains, only an elementary school is accessible. Consequently, Mi Mi ventured to the border to pursue higher education, nurturing an ambition to become an engineer.

Schools employing the Karenni Education Department (KnED)'s curriculum are operational throughout Karenni State, including one situated in the IDP camp where Maw Htwar Me Oo currently resides.

The Karenni Civil Society Network (KCSN), a watchdog compiling war-displaced lists, reported on January 2nd that there are over 282,000 IDPs in Karenni State.

Maw Pareh Myar, the secretary of the Kayan Women's Organization (KyWO), conveyed that the predominant residents in IDP camps are women, encompassing those who have experienced physical and psychological violence.

Since the beginning, gender-based violences (GBVs) has been a persistent issue in Karenni State, and unfortunately, these problems along with human rights violations, have worsened after the coup.

After the coup, in addition to gender-based violence (GBVs), other forms of human rights violations have affected not only women including pregnant individuals, but also children. The war crimes committed by the Military Council have infused women's daily lives with emotional anxiety and insecurity, leading to profound emotional pain experienced by nearly every woman displaced by the conflict”, she elaborated.

In 2023, KyWO received 60 complaints of GBV cases. The organization emphasizes the crucial need to eradicate gender-based discrimination and promote progressive ideas within society.

Maw Pareh Myar further noted that within the complaints to KyWO, psychological violence is the most prevalent, followed by instances of physical and sexual violences.

"Living in forests without electricity is very difficult for women. They feel insecure even when going to the toilet on a pitch-dark night. Concerns arise due to the potential presence of drug users in the camp, posing a perceived threat. Poorly constructed shelters lead to sleepless nights during rainfall, and the constant fear of shelling and airstrikes by the Military Council induces significant stress on women, ultimately affecting their health”, she added.

She mentioned that since the coup, violence against women has escalated in Karenni State, with perpetrators growing more emboldened. She also said that many incidents occurred in IDP camps, and the victims, reluctant to report to authorities, often resorted to quiet negotiation and settlements.

Residing in an IDP camp, U Yo expresses concern for the future of his 20-year-old daughter. Originally from Loikaw, it has been over 2 years since he fled his home with his family. U Yo uncomfortably acknowledges that living in a diverse environment like an IDP camp, heightens his worries about his young daughter. Although the family lives together in a tent in the camp, U Yo is persistently haunted by the fear that something might happen to her.

Hence, whenever his daughter leaves the tent, he ensures she goes with a trusted companion or a family member, U Yo said.

Despite the challenges, hardships, and insecurities faced by young women in the Karenni IDP camps, the strong desire of some girls to pursue their education remains unyielding. Maw Htwar Me Oo expressed her aspiration to become a doctor in the future, aiming to provide healthcare to those in need.

Furthermore, she recommended the implementation of more educational initiatives in the camps to support and safeguard women.

"It is essential to provide more education and share information so that young people can learn how to protect themselves and receive guidelines on ensuring their safety”, she suggested.

In the prevailing circumstances, establishing a safe and secure environment for Karenni girls in IDP camps remains an elusive luxury. Maw Bu Mar continues to earnestly wish for girls to experience a life that is safe and secure both mentally and physically, coupled with the presence of a trustworthy government.