Severe shortages of shelter and food for Karenni IDPs during monsoon season

Photo: Some displaced people are seen in Phru So Township, Karenni State. Karenni Humanitarian Assistance Team (KHAI) reports that during the rainy season, displaced people in Karenni State are in great need of shelter and food. (CTER-Karenni) Mizzima Internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Myanmar’s Karenni State face severe shortages of shelter and food during the monsoon season, according to the Karenni Humanitarian Assistance Initiative (KHAI). “Regarding shelter, the intense heat of summer is followed by the monsoon season, which causes rapid deterioration of makeshift tents. This weather cycle drives up the tarpaulin demand, and we receive constant requests for assistance,” a KHAI official told Mizzima on 1 July. The official added that daily requests for food supplies arrive from IDP camps, highlighting the critical nature of the shortages. Additionally, with the onset of the monsoon, vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever are endemic in Karenni State. Children and the elderly are suffering most from the mosquito bites. To prevent disease outbreaks, mosquito nets, repellents, and mosquito coils are badly needed, according to a statement released by the Karenni “Guest” Clinic on 23 June. Current monsoon road conditions in Karenni State are poor, severely disrupting cargo transport. Conveyance is particularly difficult on routes connecting Hpasawng, Mese, and Demoso. “Goods entering from Mese cannot easily reach Demoso, and vice versa for cargo from Demoso to Mese and Hpasawng. Vehicles can be stranded on the road for up to three weeks, facing a high risk of breakdown. Consequently, transport has drastically reduced due to the severely damaged roads,” the KHAI official said. Since the 2021 military coup, armed clashes, junta airstrikes, and violence have displaced over 200,000 people in Karenni State, according to data from the Karenni Human Rights Group (KnHRG). KnHRG previously warned in May that the region faces potential famine due to targeted attacks on food supplies and livelihoods, lack of income for both local residents and IDPs, and skyrocketing commodity prices, which have compounded the ongoing humanitarian crisis. The post Severe shortages of shelter and food for Karenni IDPs during monsoon season appeared first on ENG.MIZZIMA.COM.