Kantarawaddy Times
Locals and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Moe Bye area, located on the border between Karenni State and Shan State, are using contaminated water due to the flooding that followed the breach of the Moe Bye dam. As a result, skin diseases have begun to spread, according to a member of the Moe Bye IDP committee.
“People are suffering from skin diseases. Some cases who experience skin disease have cleared up, while others have not. In some instances, the condition reappears after recovery. Even I am experiencing itching and irritation on my skin,” said the committee member.
In the last week of August, troops from Battalion 422, based in Moe Bye, breached the dam for the second time. This caused further flooding in Moe Bye and Dee Maw Hso townships, submerging fields and some villages downstream.
Although IDPs are facing flooding, they are unable to relocate and continue to live in their original locations due to difficulties in moving, according to reports.
The primary source of drinking water is rainwater, which is stored, but due to a lack of sanitation, skin irritations and diseases are occurring.
On July 15, the Moe Bye dam was breached for the first time, flooding thousands of acres of farmland. During the first round of flooding, Moe Bye’s displaced residents also had to use contaminated water, leading to cases of diarrhea and skin infections.
