By By Kantarawaddy Times
An internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Mar Khraw Shay Village Tract, Pruso Township, Karenni State, is facing a health crisis as many people, including children, are falling ill while experiencing a shortage of medicine, according to local sources.
“Lately, many people have been getting sick, both children and adults. They are suffering from fever, headaches, sore throats, coughs, runny noses, and body aches. Seasonal changes often cause such outbreaks. Additionally, some people are also developing skin irritations. But we don’t have any medicine. We have to refer patients to the nearest clinic, but some of them don’t go since the clinic lack medicine. In emergency cases, we don’t have any medicine to provide,” said a medic assisting at the camp.
Although the IDP camp has a makeshift clinic, the lack of medicine has forced them to transfer emergency patients elsewhere. The seasonal transition has led to an increase in illness, and those with chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes are also in need of medication.
“Recently, as people have been working on their farms, some have suffered injuries. But even basic medical supplies like bandages and antiseptic solutions are unavailable, so we have to purchase them ourselves,” added the assisting medic.
The IDP camp was established in November 2021 when residents of Mar Khraw Shay Village Tract fled their homes due to ongoing clashes in Pruso Township. The camp currently shelters over 1,900 people from more than 200 households.
