Karenni IDPs have been forced to borrowing and sharing food, because they do not receive adequate provisions In an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp located in the eastern part of Loikaw Township, Karenni (Kayah) State.
An official from the IDP camp committee explained, “Many of these households do not have their own farms. We primarily distribute food from our stockpile. However there are several months when we are unable to provide any assistance at all. During such periods, those in their proximity offer as much help as possible. If there is no one available to assist, they rely on borrowing food, with the intention of repaying it when circumstances allow."
In 2023, donors were unable to access the area due to transportation challenges, and military blocks at checkpoints. Only a few local social organizations were occasionally able to offer support. The IDP camp is situated in the eastern part of Loikaw Township, and the IDPs are scattered throughout the area.
The majority of the IDPs are involved in farming; however, approximately one-fourth of the population does not own farmland, and depends on rice provided by donors.
The IDPs have explained that they can only repay the borrowed rice when donors provide it, and if there are no donors available, they turn to their relatives for assistance.
"One-quarter of households do not have their own farms, so these households are consistently included in the list of priority recipients. When we receive 20-30 bags of rice, we prioritize distributing them to households without farms," stated an official from the IDP camp committee.
There also remains a requirement for medicine, stationery, and materials for self-help in schools. It's reported that over 4,000 individuals from more than 30 villages, displaced due to the conflict, are residing in this IDP camp.
In the aftermath of the military coup, more than 200,000 Karenni IDPs have been displaced, due to the ongoing conflict in Karenni State and along the Shan-Karenni border. The period of displacement has been prolonged by the on-going war, which results in the IDP camps grappling with a shortage of rice and food, primarily because of the inadequate support from donors, according to individuals assisting the IDPs.
