On 9 June 2011 fighting broke out in Kachin State in the north of Burma between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the Burmese Army, ending a 17 year old ceasefire agreement. The fighting has been ongoing since that time, with disastrous impacts on local communities in and around the conflict area. Over 15,000 people are currently displaced in the Kachin-China border area alone, and an estimated 68,000 at risk of fleeing their farms and villages and becoming refugees and IDPs (internally displaced persons). Relations between the two groups have worsened since the KIA refused demands to become a Border Guard Force (BGF) operating within Burmese Army control. No new ceasefire agreement seems likely at the present time.
The large numbers of current and projected IDPs and refugees require urgent emergency assistance and support. On 14 June 2011, ‘Wunpawng Ninghtoi’ (WPN) was established in the China border area, with the involvement of several ERI Burma alumni, bringing together a number of existing local organizations in Mai Ja Yang. Its aims are to provide food, shelter, safety and health care for refugees and IDPs and to support and organize these groups and threatened communities. WPN further aims to document the current situation for IDPS and refugees as well as ongoing human rights violations and abuses, including reports of rape and violence against civilian women perpetrated by the Burmese military.
Other local organizations including civil society and faith based groups are providing support in their respective areas within Kachin State. Support and assistance by external organizations is extremely limited and has been restricted by the Burmese authorities. As the population of IDPs and refugees grows, emergency needs have surpassed the current available resources of these organizations and they face additional challenges in terms of fundraising, logistics, and a lack of coordination. The Relief Action Network for IDP and Refugee (RANIR) was therefore established to ensure better coordination and resource sharing amongst the various stakeholders.
About 5,000 refugees and IDPs are currently under the care of the WPN’s Relief Group for IDPs and Refugees. WPN are carrying out a range of activities, including distributing emergency aid and food supplies donated by local and foreign Kachin communities, delivering emergency health assistance, providing trauma counseling and care for orphans and children and promoting longer term food security in areas affected by the conflict.
WPN require urgent support in order to continue assistance to affected persons and to address the growing numbers of IDPs and refugees produced by the conflict, in coordination with RANIR. Current needs include provision of emergency food and aid, shelter and logistics support, health care and counseling, child care, transportation, livestock and agricultural support to safeguard food security, and documentation and reporting of the current situation and ongoing human rights abuses. Less than USD $1.50, or approximately 40 Thai Baht, is required to provide assistance to one IDP.
If you would like further information or are able to provide support please contact WPN directly on mjykachin11@gmail.com.
See the following for more information on this issue:
Wunpawng Ninghtoi (WPN)
www.earthrightsalumni.org/content/wunpawng-ninghtoi
Kachin Women’s Association of Thailand
www.kachinwomen.org
The Irrawaddy
www.irrawaddy.org
Kachin News
www.kachinnews.com
Interview with refugees on Burmese Army use of rape as a weapon of war
www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-ULKjZTvB4
