Although Myaing Gyi Ngu Sayadaw has donated leaves to repair the roofs in the IDP camps, which house over 5,000 IDPs, some houses did not receive enough leaves to repair the roofs before the monsoon starts, according to Aye Linn Mya Shin IDP camp’s official Naw Tin Hla.

“The Sayadaw has donated to both camps, but it’s not enough for them. Some IDPs who can afford the money have bought more leaves. Other houses are still in disorder,” she said.

Myaing Gyi Ngu Sayadaw has donated 200 leaves per household for families without head of the household and 100 leaves per household for other families. The IDPs have to search for wood and bamboos to repair their houses.

The two IDP camps currently have enough food supply for three months after Hlaingbwe Township General Administrator donated 1,760 bags of rice. The camps have also received donations from other donors but they are facing a shortage of firewood for cooking meals.

Thousands of villagers from Mae Tha Wor area fled to Myaing Gyi Ngu IDP camp after fighting broke out between a joint forces of the Tatmadaw and the Border Guard Forces (BGF) and the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA splinter group) in September 2016.

A total of 5,480 people from 932 households are currently living at the two IDP camps in Myaing Gyi Ngu, according to statistics collected by the camp officials.

Over 2,300 villagers have fled for their safety after skirmishes broke out between the Tatmadaw and the Karen National Union (KNU) Brigade 5 in Ler Mu Plaw area in Lu Thaw Township of the KNU’s Mu Traw (Hpapun) District since March 4. These displaced residents need accommodation, shelter, and food, according to relief groups.