Internally displaced people (IDPs) in Pinlaung township in southern Shan state, who do not have household records and national registration cards, are facing big difficulties when they want to travel to other towns and villages.
The IDPs who fled the fighting between the Military Council and the People Defense Forces (PDF) in Karenni (Kayah) State, and have been sheltering in Pinlaung for almost 2 years, are experiencing great distress and difficulties in travel because they lack documentation such as household records and national registration cards, a 28- year-old woman from Nan Me Khon who fled the conflicts told Shan Herald.
Currently the total number of IDPs is around 20,000 from Karenni state now are taking refuge in Pinlaung. And eighty percent of this population do not have household records and national registration cards.
“We couldn’t carry any belongings when we fled. We hid some important personal belongings, but we couldn’t bring them with us. Everyone needs to bring a national registration card when traveling. There are many checks and inspections on the road. In cases like going to the hospital, it is mandatory to bring the national registration card. You can’t travel without this card”, the IDP woman said.
Some IDPs want to work in other towns and villages to support their families, but they are blocked because they don’t have national registration cards.
“Some IDPs want to work in other cities. The national registration card is mandatory in such circumstances. If you don’t have that card, you have to show household records as proof. Those who don/t have both are in a big dilemma”, she added.
There are three checkpoints along Pyidaungsu Road between Pinlaung and Taunggyi towns, where national registration cards are mainly checked.
The IDPs arriving in Pinlaung are residents from Nan Me Khon, Thay Su Le, Demoso, Dor Ta Se, Okay, Ngwe Taung, Sor Khee Dor, Lar Le, Mongpai, Warri Su Phalai, We The Ku, Pekon, Kathe, Khong Mai and Lwe Paw areas in Karenni State.
It has been more than 2 months since the donors delivered any aid to these IDPs, which has resulted in an acute and desperate need for food, warm clothes, garments and emergency medicines.
