Kayin IDPs struggle to get for food

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YANGON, Myanmar – Kayin internally displaced people are desperate for food, clothing and shelter, hiding in the forest from the air strikes of the Myanmar military.

The IDPs fled to neighboring Thailand, but Thai government turned them back. However, Wednesday morning the Thai government opened Maeseli jetty in Maehaungsaung district to sending rations and medicines over the border to Kayin state, according to a Thai media.

By Htay Win

India’s Manipur security forces expel IDPs from Myanmar

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YANGON, Myanmar – Myanmar citizens from Tamu who had fled across the border into India were expelled back to Myanmar, according to Imphal Free Press.

Manipur’s government also published a letter March 26 urging local Civil Society Organizations not to give shelter to Myanmar IDPs, although the people on both sides of the border often have existing relationships.

India’s federal government is putting more pressure on the northeastern states to not accept IDPs, too. Mizoran state, however, has refused and is trying to persuade the federal government to accept Myanmar IDPs.

By Htay Win
Photo credit CN

IDPs call for removal of Myanmar military stations

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YANGON, Myanmar – Internally displaced people in Rakhine state have called for the removal of Myanmar military stations near their villages in order that they could get back to their villages after the clashes between Arakan Army and the military have stopped.

“We do not dare go back to my village even though there is no fighting because of Myanmar military stations near my Saukkhat village,” said a woman from the IDP camp.

According to Rakhine ethnic committee, there are 148 IDP camps with a total population of 190,000 in five townships in Rakhine state.

There had been fierce fighting between the Arakan Army and Myanmar military in Rakhine state since 2018, and people fled their villages to the IDP camps while seeing more deaths of non-combatants. A year earlier, in 2017, others from the area fled similar troubles to neighboring Bangladesh as well. The Arakan Army was formed for a purpose of political self-determination 10 years ago in Kachin state.

By Htay Win

Displaced people in South Sudan fear return over delay in peace implementation

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JUBA, South Sudan – The South Sudan civil society forum has said that several internally displaced persons and refugees in neighboring countries are fearing to return to their homes because of delay in implementing the revitalized peace deal.

“Lack of plans by the government, looming insecurity and poor services continue to discourage IDPs and refugees from returning home,” said a statement issued by South Sudan Civil Society forum on Monday in Juba.

According to UN agencies, close to one million people are living in IDP camps in the country.

These people were displaced in the aftermath of violence that broke out in December 2013 and renewed violence in July 2016 that displaced thousands in Central, Eastern and Western Equatoria states respectively.

“A comprehensive national plan to facilitate and support repatriation, rehabilitation and resettlement of internally displaced persons and returnees in a voluntary and dignified manner has to be developed,” according to the forum.

It also expressed deep concern over slow implementation of the security arrangement that includes training and unification of the army.

South Sudan is supposed to complete training and unification of 83,000 estimated force to take charge of security during the transitional period before elections are held around 2023.

“The 2018 agreement provided for restoration of permanent and sustainable peace, security and stability in our country envisaged through training, graduation and deployment of national unified forces to take charge of security. Sadly, there is little progress to report on this front,” it said.

By Benjamin Takpiny