A shortfall of aid by the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) has created a food crisis in internally displaced people’s (IDPs) camps around Kachin state capital Myitkyina, say aid workers. The camps located in government controlled regions of central Kachin state house several thousand refugees displaced by fighting between Burma’s military and the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO).
IDP camps at N’Jang Dung Kachin Baptist Church, the Dapkawng Kachin Baptist Church and the San Pya Kachin Baptist Church are the most affected by the WFP shortage. Naw Seng, a priest and in charge of the San Pya Kachin Baptist Church camp, is very worried about the present situation. “We have to buy rice because they (WFP) haven’t come here. Discussions have begun with rice sellers about loans. Initially the problems were solved by using church funds but these are gone now.”
Previously the WFP regularly distributed basic food such as rice, oil, salt and split peas to the three IDP camps sheltering over 600 people. But since Nov. 24 camp leaders have to get food elsewhere. Leaders are anxious how long this will continue, Naw Seng said.
San Pya camp resident Salang Lahtaw Tu told Kachin News Group he can’t feed his family of nine. “Previously I sent the children with fried rice every day when they went school. But we haven’t done this for the past few weeks. We cannot feed the children properly. I have no idea where I can get an income from.”
Karuna Myanmar Social Services (KMSS), run by the Catholic Church and based in Myitkyina, planned to make a formal assessment of the food shortage affecting the three camps last week, but it’s been delayed pending approval from senior officials of the organization.
Very few international donors provide support to the IDP camps in the Myitkyina area, according to the Kachin Baptist Church (KBC) that manages the camps in the area. The WFP supports basic food aid. The UNHCR provides funding for administration. Additionally with Oxfam they help with health, water and sanitation. Several small church groups provide some support.
According to figures obtained by KBC, there are more than 7,000 IDPs living in in 21 camps in Waingmaw and Myitkyina areas; both controlled by the government. Over 100,000 Kachin civilians have been displaced following over two years of conflict between government forces and the KIO. The majority are sheltering in KIO operated camps near China border.
