CJ/Kantarawaddy Times
Internally displaced people (IDPs) in IDPs camps in Pruso Township are beginning to experience severe water shortages, leading to a significant rise in livestock deaths, according to displaced residents.
“Due to the water crisis, about 30% of buffaloes and cows have died each year, while around 40% have been lost due to landmines, falling into latrines, drowning in reservoirs, or going missing after displacement since they are unable to look after their livestocks” aid a male IDP.
Reports indicate that within just the first month of 2025, the number of livestock deaths has already reached the tens of thousands. Local residents state that livestock deaths due to water shortages have been a recurring issue in Pruso Township, with numbers increasing each year.
“Due to extreme thirst, animals approach wells in search of water; however, some accidentally fall in. Calves are becoming increasingly weak and unable to walk as a result of the water shortage,” said a local resident from Pruso.
In addition to livestock deaths, the water storage reservoirs used for drinking water are also drying up. With limited water sources and rising transportation costs for water, residents fear that the situation will become even more worses during the summer seasons.
“The rainwater has already been depleted. Even the remaining water stored in tanks has begun to emit an odor. It’s becoming challenging to manage food and hygiene, leading to frequent cases of diarrhea,” said an displaced local living So Thel IDPs camp.
In 2024, similar water shortages occurred in two villages in the southeastern part of Pruso Township—Daw Ku Li and Law Palyar—where communal water reservoirs dried up. As a result, young buffaloes and cows under one year old died. Additionally, landmine incidents continue to cause livestock deaths every year.
