Due to early seasonal rains and strong winds since early May, some internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Karenni State have experienced damage to their thatched shelters, with residents now urgently in need of roofing materials, according to local IDPs.

“It’s not a problem when there’s just light rain, but the place where we’re living is along a wind path. So when there are strong winds and heavy rain, our house leaks completely. The first couple of days it rained at night, our bedding got soaked. I had to squeeze the kids into the only dry spot left. Now, I can’t afford roofing tarps either—it’s really difficult,” said a woman from Leh Taw 3 IDP Camp in the western part of Dee Maw Hso Township.

As the displacement has dragged on, needs in the camps have only grown. Meanwhile, support from donor organizations has dwindled, and few, if any, are currently donating roofing tarps. With the rainy season now arriving, requests for shelter support are on the rise.

“Every household here needs a safe shelter. It’s been a while since we don’t have proper shelters. Normally, the tarps last only about a year, and they need to be replaced. But with financial hardship and no donations, even replacing them once a year has become impossible. When it rains heavily or the wind picks up, that’s when we start facing serious problems. It’s not even peak raining season yet, and we’re already worried about what’s coming,” said a camp official.

In Dee Maw Hso Township, at least six IDP camps have submitted lists requesting aid for shelter, including roofing materials, due to both food insecurity and inadequate shelter conditions, according to a local relief volunteer.

Currently, the price of roofing tarps varies: approximately 60,000 MMK for a 15-foot tarp, 80,000 MMK for an 18-foot tarp, and over 100,000 MMK for a 21-foot tarp.