Kantarawaddy Times
Schools in Karenni sate are only able to rely on bomb shelters as a means of air defense, as schools, hospitals, and civilian areas are increasingly targeted by the military junta’s airstrikes and heavy artillery attacks. This is according to a school administrator from a school for internally displaced people.
“The only way to protect ourselves is to dig bomb shelters,” the school administrator said. “We don’t know of any other ways, or we are simply unable to do anything else.”
It is reported that there is a lack of knowledge about other air raid protection methods, and various reasons have prevented the implementation of alternative measures.
There have been 10 schools in Karenni State that have been targeted by the junta’s airstrikes. Seven of these schools are located in Dee Maw Hso Township, one in Loikaw Township, one in Mese Township, and one in Bawlakhe Township.
While the Karenni State Interim Executive Council (IEC) is providing as much assistance as possible to schools, they are still working on providing robust support, according to IEC Secretary 2, U Banyar.
“Communities have had to rely on their own means of protection, with some help from civil society organizations. The IEC also offers assistance where possible. Recently, we have been implementing more systematic frameworks and planning to provide robust protection methods in refugee camps and schools,” U Banyar stated.
Currently, schools only have bomb shelters dug by local residents and internally displaced people. However, according to the Kayan Women Organization, which is providing assistance to displaced people, not all schools have bomb shelters.
