By Kantarawaddy Times
Internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Khoe Lyar So (Bue Khu) IDP camp, located in the eastern part of Pruso Township, Karenni State, are experiencing severe water shortages.
Displaced residents report that they are struggling to collect water for daily use.
As early as the first week of February, drinking water sources have begun to dry up, forcing IDPs to fetch water as early as 4 a.m., according to a female IDP.
“It takes about two and a half to three hours for a round trip. If we have to wash clothes, it takes almost the entire day. To fetch water, we have to leave around 3 or 4 a.m. By 5 a.m., there’s no water left,” she explained.
Families are forced to travel long distances on foot to reach available water sources, raising concerns over safety and security.
“On the way, we have to rest at least four times; we can’t go continuously. It’s exhausting. If we have children with us, the journey takes more than three hours,” she added.
With the summer season approaching, the water source where Khoe Lyar So (Bue Khu) IDPs collect water is producing less water. Moreover, as both local residents and displaced persons rely on the same source, water scarcity may worsen soon, according to a male IDP.
“As soon as summer arrives, water shortages become a serious issue. Even though there is a water source, it is no longer sufficient for the entire village, and we have to compete for it. People start collecting water as early as 2 or 3 a.m. Last year, we had to travel as far as Nanphe to fetch water, but security concerns have made it unsafe due to ongoing military operations. Even for those who manage to reach the water source, the amount of water we can bring back is very limited. Since there are many households, each family only gets one or two buckets of water. This has become a major challenge,” he said.
Most villages in the eastern part of Pruso Township rely on unclean, reddish-colored water instead of clear drinking water during the dry season.
The Khoe Lyar So (Bue Khu) IDP camp consists of 52 households, with a population of over 200 people. Due to its location in an area with limited water resources, the camp faces severe water shortages every year during the dry season.
