By Kantarawaddy Times
The Karenni State Interim Executive Council (IEC) has appealed to the world to assist over 250,000 civilians displaced by the war in Karenni and Pekon Township in southern Shan State, where they have sought shelter under the protection of resistance forces fighting the military regime.
The council posted a statement on its Facebook group last month, appealing for aid. While the World Food Programme has helped IDPs in government-controlled areas of Karenni State like the capital town of Loikaw, most of the state is under the control of the resistance, where the majority of IDPs are located.
Formed by resistance groups and civil organizations in June, the IEC is the first revolutionary government established in the country since the military coup over two years ago.
According to the IEC, it costs about one million dollars to support all 200 camps in the state. Currently, all this assistance comes from local groups, private donations, and international non-governmental organizations. Many people have been displaced for more than two years, and every month, fighting forces more people from their homes.
Ma Zue Padonma, its first secretary, commented, “We also urge the Thai government to continue accepting Karenni IDPs at the Thai border area and provide them with temporary camps.”
Thousands of IDPs and villagers have fled to Thailand since June after facing shelling and jet fighter attacks that started when several units of the Karenni Border Guard Force defected from the military regime in southern Karenni State.
