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Myanmar Red Cross aid reaches thousands in Kachin State

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Myanmar
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Myanmar Red Cross Society
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Myanmar Red Cross volunteers have distributed vital emergency relief supplies to thousands of vulnerable people in Kachin State. The distributions, supported by Danish Red Cross and Singapore Red Cross, included blankets, tarpaulins, mosquito nets, clothes, cooking pots, soap and school kits.

The much needed items were distributed in ten camps in Myit Kyi Na, Phar Khant, Wine Maw and Moe Nyin Townships.

Daw Tain Pon Wam – 71 years old and her husband have been living with host family for one year after they were forced to leave home in November 2011. In November 2012, she moved to the camp with her husband and stayed there since then.

“Before, even though I may have had rice or beans I had no pot to cook it in. I had to try and borrow from others. Now I have it, now I can cook for us” she said.

Conflict between Government troops and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has displaced up to 75,000 in the troubled Northern region with many now living in temporary bamboo shelters in large camps. Ongoing security concerns have posed significant challenges to reaching all of those in need, with many communities receiving little if any, humanitarian assistance. Importantly Red Cross volunteers were able to reach both government and non-government controlled areas even though access has in the past provide difficult in some areas.

“Tens of thousands of people are facing severe hardship every day in Kachin and it’s critical we are able to reach them, in both Government and non-Government controlled areas” said U Khin Maung Hla, Secretary General from Myanmar Red Cross Society.

In addition to the items already distributed, Myanmar Red Cross hopes to reach another 5000 people, from both affected areas, in the coming months.