150000 people still displaced in Myanmar

150,000 people still displaced in Myanmar

Published on Monday, 02 September 2013 20:31

An IDP camp in Kachin State (Photo - EMG)

There are 150,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) living in government controlled areas in Kachin and Rakhine States, according to officials. 

"According to the final list, there are over 39,000 IDPs in Kachin State and nearly 110,000 refugees in Rakhine State," said Than Htut Swe, Director of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) report published in 2012, the violence in Rakhine State left over 70,000 people displaced during June and 30,000 more in October.

Myanmar Peace Monitor, a watchdog organisation looking at the peace process in Myanmar, said in their 2013 report that the fighting between the military and Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has displaced over 100,000 local people in Kachin State. This has resulted in the emergence of new IDP camps both in KIA areas and government controlled areas such as Myitkyina and Waimaw townships.

There are over 632,000 IDPs including war refugees in Myanmar, according to the report of UNOCHA. Although rehabilitation tasks can't be carried out in Kachin State, land-mine cleaning works are being started joining hands with the foreign firms, according to the source of the ministry.

Upon completion of land-mine cleaning tasks, the ministry is ready to implement the construction of housing development projects.

Moreover, the ministry will build the houses for refugees who didn't want to return back their homes. New IDP camps are also being opened in Rakhine State in Kyaukphyu, Kyauktaw, Minpya, Mrauk Oo, Myaypon, Pauktaw, Ranbyee, Yathetaung and Sittway townships.

http://www.information.myanmaronlinecentre.com/150000-people-still-displaced-in-myanmar/