More than 400 displaced Kachin from 85 families, who were displaced by the fighting between the Kachin Independence Army and the Burma Army in 2011, were repatriated to their villages last week with the help of religious groups.

An anonymous source who went home told KNG that the Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC) had already built them houses in Yay Kyi and Tar Padawng. “We wanted to return to our village last year, but because of the military coup and the ongoing fighting, we didn’t make it.”

Although they’ve no security guarantee, it was time to return because some people have houses waiting for them, said the man who lived in Jan Mai Kawng internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp in Myitkyina, where most returnees were housed. Only five families have returned from Betlehem IDP camp.

Some of the IDPs may have a new home but they’re concerned about whether their children will be able to go to school.

“We’re worried about our children because the political situation has deteriorated a lot. We don’t know what’ll happen in the future and we’re worried about their education,” a woman requesting anonymity told KNG.

According the Kachin Humanitarian Concern Committee, only 30 houses have been built for returnees to Yay Kyi village, all of which have no electricity, which it hopes will be provided by private donors.

The World Food Programme has agreed to continue providing them food aid for the next six months.