Lae Sho — Malnutrition has affected many children in Karenni State who aren’t getting three meals a day due to the conflict and economic insecurity. Khoon Philip, the director of the Civil Health and Development Network (CHDN), said his organisation has counted at least 200 cases but suspects numbers are much higher than this estimate, as the survey was limited to a specific area.
“Sometimes they can not eat rice regularly. And sometimes they only get rice soup,” he said, explaining that many women also go hungry. Members of CHDN measured and weighed people in the areas where their organisation is based.
According to volunteers helping in the internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps, the Burma Army (BA) has deliberately obstructed and destroyed access of relief supplies to these areas.
A man from western Hpruso Township said: “The children are very thin and underweight. They move very slowly and are used to being sick, so they cannot concentrate well in class.” He said that they do not receive nutritious food, but also have no access to medical care when they fall sick. In many cases, the BA has already destroyed their villages as part of its “Four Cuts” policy, so they cannot return to get their food.
According to local Karenni groups, over 200k have been displaced by regime attacks and fighting with resistance groups in Karenni and Shan states.
