At an internally displaced person (IDP) camp along the Karenni State and Thai border, the use of unclean water has led to children developing skin sores and adults suffering from diarrhea.

“There are over 20 cases of diarrhea among adults, and more than 100 children are suffering from skin scores. The water is the cause. People bathe and wash clothes upstream while others bathe and drink downstream. The number of residents is also high,” a camp official reported.

The camp relies solely on a single stream for all water-related needs, including drinking, cooking, bathing, and washing. The lack of clean water has resulted in the outbreak of skin sores and diarrhea among the residents.

Camp authorities are urgently appealing for assistance in establishing a clean water pipeline.

“If we don’t get additional water sources soon, more children and adults will suffer from skin sores and diarrhea. We desperately need a water pipeline. There is a water source, but it’s far away, and neither the IDPs nor the local committees can build the system on their own. We need immediate support. The distance is about 30,000 feet,” the official added.

The camp houses 320 families, with a total population of 1,452 people.