No Money For IDPs To Resettle In Northern Shan State
By Network Media Group
Tuesday, June 6, 2023
The military regime is putting pressure on the internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in northern Shan State, but residents told the NMG they did not know where else to go.
“Most IDPs are not able to buy land because they have financial difficulties,” a man from Mongkoe camp told NMG, asking that his name not be mentioned.
Of the 220 families living there, only 70 have managed to leave, he said, explaining that some have scraped together enough money to rent a room in a town while others have started new villages elsewhere.
“We need to buy land in a new place” another anonymous source said, but have no money because of the political crisis to buy food or send our children to school. Nowadays it is difficult to even find work as day labourers, the person explained.
With nowhere to go, IDPs need assistance purchasing new land. Although the World Food Programme helps with monthly food rations, there is no support for them to resettle. Inflation caused by the fall of the kyat as a result of the coup has made the situation worse.
In mid-March, the Military Council told officials that 7 camps would have to be closed in March and 8 in April. These include Namphetka KBC, Awng Thabyay, Mongyulay, Zup Aung, Kalaizup Awng (1&2), Panku, Loimong, Namtu, Mongkoe, Kutkai KBC IDP (1&2), Kutkai RC, Saint Thomas and Nay Won Ni.
