KayDu/ Kantarawaddy Times
Inside a small hut in an internally displaced person camp, a woman in her 40s named Maw Phoe Moe patiently sews Dipterocarpus leaves (in Burmese ‘In Ywat’ or ‘Phet Ywat’) together.
“The roof of my house is no longer good. They say they won’t be able to distribute new tarpaulins later on. That worries me. So, even though I don’t really know how to do it, I’m trying to use ‘Phet Ywat’ for roofing,” Maw Phoe Moe says.
Maw Phoe Moe lives in a small hut with her two sons. The tarpaulin covering the roof of their hut is already quite old and worn out. That’s why she is trying to use ‘Phet Ywat’ as a replacement for the roof.
The tarpaulins for the huts in the IDP camp were provided by donors. However, as the displacement period has lengthened, the number of displaced people has increased, and donors are now struggling to continue providing support.
Because of this, Maw Phoe Moe and others have started collecting the leaves to replace the worn-out tarpaulins on their roofs.
Before dawn, even before the morning mist clears, Maw Phoe Moe and others venture into the forest, carrying long bamboo poles to collect fallen Dipterocarpus leaves.
Being a woman with a small frame, carrying a long bamboo pole while climbing up and down steep slopes is not easy for her.
Moreover, most of the leaves are scattered on the steep hillsides. This situation makes it difficult to collect them.
The steep hills are also covered with loose stone that can increase the risk of slipping and falling.
To go into such areas, one should wear hiking boots or durable rubber boots for safety. However, as an IDP, Maw Phoe Moe has no choice but to make do with the simple flip-flops she has.
“It’s very slippery, especially when collecting leaves on the hillsides. I have to be very careful with my footing. I don’t even have proper shoes now, so I just wear these flip-flops and try my best. I’m worried I might slip and fall at any time. There are many people collecting leaves in the mornings, but since it’s my first time, I can only manage to gather a little,” she says.
Maw Phoe Moe arrived at this border IDP camp in March 2023 after fleeing her village in DeeMawHso due to the military coup.
Back in her village, she had never gathered ‘Phet Ywat’ before. It was only after arriving at the IDP camp that she had to start learning how to do it.
Since it’s her first time collecting ‘Phet Ywat’, the process is not only exhausting but also difficult. Even sewing the leaves together is more challenging than she expected.
Like Maw Phoe Moe, another woman, Maw Ngar Myar, who is 45 years old, is also collecting Dipterocarpus leaves or ‘Phet Ywat’ for roofing. However, she is not only gathering leaves for her own roof but also to sell.
As an IDP with no income, according to the camp leader, she learned that she could sell ‘Phet Ywat’ for extra money, which led her to start collecting them.
Maw Ngar Myar lives in the IDP camp with her three daughters. Since she has no male family members, she struggles with the additional task of cutting bamboo poles needed to sew the leaves together.
“I heard that ‘Phet Ywat’ sells for a good price, so I started collecting them. The camp leader said they would buy at the price of the Refugee camp (1) market price. So, I try my best to gather the leaves and sew them into a roofing sheet. If someone else helps me cut the bamboo, then I can sew them together. But I’m a bit scared when it comes to cutting bamboo myself,” she says.
For those who are new to working with ‘Phet Ywat’, the process is extremely challenging. They have to observe and learn from experienced ones before they can start doing it on their own.
The camp authorities have already informed the IDPs that they will not be able to distribute tarpaulins for roofing this year.
During the spring season, strong winds often blow through the camp, raising fears that the roofs of the huts might be torn away. And when the rainy season arrives, there are growing worries that the huts will not be able to withstand the downpours.
That’s why, before the monsoon arrives, as many IDPs as possible are trying to gather Dipterocarpus leaves or ‘Phet Ywat’ and secure their roofs. However, ‘Phet Ywat’ alone may not be enough to provide adequate roofing for everyone. Some IDPs who can afford it are buying tarpaulins to repair their homes.
In the IDP camp where Maw Phoe Moe and Maw Ngar Myar live, there are nearly 400 households. Many of them are also struggling to replace their roofs with leaves. Some are even selling ‘Phet Ywat’ roofing sheets to earn a little money, with a hundred roofing sheets selling for around 350 Thai baht.
