ReliefWeb

After a 17-year-long cease fire, fighting erupted again in Kachin State, northern Myanmar, since 2011. The resumption of hostilities provoked large population displacements, in both government-controlled areas (GCA) and non-government controlled areas (NGCA). In 2011 alone, more than 90,000 were displaced across 142 camps. Due to the intensification of violence since April 2016, 30,000 men, women and children have been newly displaced.

Through its Rapid Response Mechanism, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL has been responding in emergency to the water, sanitation and shelter needs of the numerous displaced populations in Southern Kachin State. The newly displaced people since April 2016 add to the 87,000 individuals already settled in the 142 camps and host sites of the country.

Daw Ngwar Ma Lu – 78-years old Lisu woman from Pen Se village – lives in Sadung temporary camp with her grandson’s family. On 27th December 2016, the area surrounding her village was bombed. At first, she temporarily fled with her family to China. Soon after, they moved to Sadung camp, in the non-government controlled areas.“I heard very loud bombings and the ground started to shake. My grandson picked up some family items and we all fled the village by motorbike,”Daw Ngwar Ma Lu describes with a trembling voice. “I am old and suffer from severe pain in my whole body, especially my back. There has been so much fighting in Kachin, I have forgotten how many times I have had to flee from battle”.

Provide for people’s needs

Active in Kachin State since 2012, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL intervenes to respond to the needs of conflict-affected communities in Southern Kachin, by providing hygiene, shelter and NFI kits to displaced families. In Sadung temporary camp, SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL has also provided sanitation access and treatment for the water supply.

“I am very thankful to SOLIDARITÉS INTERNATIONAL for providing us with humanitarian aid. There used to be a lot of open defecation in the bush near Sadung temporary camp, because of the lack of latrines. Now we have latrines and also access to drinking water!” Daw Ngwar Ma Lu explains. “The items distributed (blanket, mat and cooking pot) are also very useful, as we could not bring our own when we fled”.