Kantarawaddy Times
An internally displaced persons (IDP) camp on the border of Thailand and Karenni State is now facing hardships after losing donor support for food supplies starting from March, according to Khu Phray Reh, the camp chairman.
In previous months, they had been distributing the remaining rice stock. They gave each displaced person 3 kilograms, but that was the last distribution.
“Since this March, we have not received any rice supplies anymore. There is only a very small amount left, and we are sharing it among our people, but it is definitely not enough,” said Khu Phray Reh, the chairman of the camp.
After the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) cut its international aid programs, including those to Myanmar, the camps, which were heavily relying on donors, began to experience a shortage of rice and other basic necessities.
The camp currently is a home for about 3,000 people. However, some have already returned to their original homes inside Myanmar due to the lack of aid.
Previously, through local organizations that received USAID support, the camp regularly received dry rations like rice, oil, salt, beans, and dried fish.
Currently, they are still hoping for support from the Karenni Emergency Rescue Committee (CTER-Karenni). For longer-term food security, they are planning to clear land near the camp to start farming this year, Khu Phray Reh added.
“In this camp, we didn’t do farming every year since the past. But this year, we have made a plan to start clearing land for farming. However, since we’re just beginning, we won’t be able to harvest anything until next year,” said Khu Phray Reh.
He also mentioned that since there is no regular income or jobs for the displaced people to support themselves, they could face greater hardships in the long term. However, if they are allowed to farm, they could potentially secure a year’s worth of food supplies, said U Byar Reh, a resident of the camp.
“If we are allowed to farm and can sow one basket of paddy, we could harvest around ten to twenty sacks of rice, which would be enough for a year’s food,” said U Byar Reh.
In the past, they distributed rice at a rate of 15 kilograms per adult per month, and 8 kilograms per month for children under five years old. On average, between 600 and 700 sacks of rice were distributed monthly.
After the U.S. government suspended international aid support, not only the IDPs along the Thai–Karenni border but also many IDP camps inside Karenni State itself are now increasingly facing severe rice shortages.
