Military Council Wants To Close Northern Shan State IDP Camps
By Network Media Group
Wednesday, May 31, 2023
Since the takeover, the Military Council has discussed shutting down the internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps around Kutkai and Mongkoe, but the IDPs cannot go back to their villages in northern Shan State because the area is over run by ethnic armed organisations.
“They frequently talk about closing the IDP camps. At the same time, we cannot return to our original village, so we have to move to another safe place,” U Brang Mai, who is in charge of Mongkoe IDP camp, told NMG.
More than 70 people have already left on their own but over 100 people remain at the camp, which is located in Ward 6 in eastern Mongkoe town. Those who have left have bought land from Ta’ang sugarcane farmers and built bamboo houses on it.
A anonymous resident of KBC IDP camp-1 near Kutkai, where 243 people live, said that many people cannot afford to move to another place. But those who have left have had to deal with many challenges.
“Some people bought land on credit and now they’re facing many difficulties. The land is hilly, so they need to level it, which adds to their debts. Parents are also struggling in their businesses and there are few job opportunities available. On top of that, the prices of goods have increased significantly,” she said.