There has been an increase in deaths of children newly born to internally displaced people (IDPs) sheltering in rural areas of Mindat Township, Southern Chin State.

There are about 15,000 IDPs sheltering in IDP camps in Mindat Township and they have an urgent need of adequate healthcare services, according to the Mindat IDP Camp Management Committee.

Five deaths of newborns (neonatal deaths) were recorded during July 2024 in IDP camps in Mindat Township’s No.3 sub-township, according to Ko Law Yint from the Mindat Township IDP Camp Management Committee.

Talking of IDP neonatal deaths he said: "Previously, there were around five cases a month. These are neonatal deaths, specifically among newborns. I recently visited my mother’s village, where there were four pregnant women approaching their due dates. Out of those four women who gave birth, only two babies survived. Unfortunately, two babies died. We need to improve and make healthcare services more accessible than they are now.”

He added that reasons for the increase in the IDP neonatal mortality rate could include inadequate healthcare, malnutrition, lack of knowledge, fear, and anxiety.

He also recommended that, because of the high rate of IDP neonatal mortality, IDPs should avoid having children and use contraceptives instead.

Currently, the IDPs in Mindat Township are receiving healthcare services from the Mindat Township healthcare department under the Mindat Township People’s Administration Team, two non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) doctors and nurses. Unfortunately they cannot offer sufficient healthcare to the IDPs.

According to records from the Mindat Township Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camp Management Committee, there have been over 20 neonatal deaths in Mindat Township IDP camps over in the three years since the military coup.