By Kantarawaddy Times
In the Pon Chaung IDP camp, located on the eastern side of Dee Maw Hso Township in Karenni State, schools damaged by flooding are in urgent need of reconstruction, according to humanitarian workers assisting internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Due to the destruction caused by the floods, classes are currently being conducted in makeshift tents, highlighting the urgent need for proper school buildings to create safe learning environment, said a member of the Clean Yangon organization.
“It’s absolutely essential to rebuild the schools in Pon Chaung. We’ve discussed this with the IDP committees in the camp, and they reported that after the schools were destroyed by the floods, they had to conduct classes in temporary shelters. From what we know, this is the situation at Camp 6, and it’s clear that reconstruction is necessary,” stated the Clean Yangon representative.
The Interim Executive Council (IEC) of Karenni State confirmed that housing reconstruction for flood-affected IDPs will be prioritized, and rebuilding the damaged school facilities is also part of their restoration plan.
“Several school buildings were completely destroyed—around four to six structures. Rebuilding them is already part of the reconstruction program,” said U Bayan, a deputy administrator of the IEC, in an interview with the Kantarawaddy Times.
In September, most schools in IDP Camps 1 to 7, located near Pon Chaung, were flooded and damaged by heavy rains.
Many flood-affected IDPs, whose homes were destroyed, are now staying with relatives or acquaintances in nearby villages. Others are living together in temporary shelters. In addition to school buildings, they urgently need roofing materials and bamboo to rebuild houses, an IDP resident shared.
“The schools in Camps 6 and 7 were completely destroyed by the floods. Rebuilding them is essential. It’s not just schools—we also need to rebuild homes. Bamboo and roofing materials are especially needed, but bamboo is hard to find. Even the bamboo we have doesn’t meet our requirements. We need large bamboo for construction, but only small bamboo is available,” the resident explained.
The IEC reported that 1,956 homes along the Karenni and Shan-Karenni border were damaged or submerged during the September floods, leaving these areas in urgent need of assistance.
The Pon Chaung IDP camp houses seven camps with a total of 697 households and approximately 670 students.
