Kachin Children in War Trauma: Burma Rights Commission

A Kachin child at a temporary shelter for refugees in Laiza, Kachin State. (Photo: The Irrawaddy)

Children in war-torn Kachin State appear to suffer from psychological trauma while adults experience a sense of insecurity and diminished confidence, the Burmese government rights body reported on Wednesday.
The Myanmar National Human Rights Commission made the statement after visiting Kachin State, northern Burma, to observe the condition of war refugees who have been displaced from their homes.
Despite the local authority of Kachin State and civil society organizations including UN agencies distributing aid to displaced civilians, there is still a need for warm clothes and blankets as the winter weather sets in, according to a report by the observation team in state-run newspaper The New Light of Myanmar.
Kachin State is one of the coldest regions of Burma with heavy seasonal snowfall and ice-covered mountains.
Many families, particularly those with young children, face the additional challenge of sharing overcrowded temporary accommodation, said the report. Most people interviewed by the government rights body said they wanted to return home.
With permission from the Burmese government, a UN team visited the KIA headquarter of Laiza where more than 34,000 refugees are currently sheltering. Of this number, the vast majority are women, children and other vulnerable sections of society.
Despite Burma President Thein Sein instructing government forces in Kachin State not to engage in offensive operations against the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) rebel group, fighting still continues today.
The government reportedly started using several helicopters in conflict zones by a village known as Maijayang on Tuesday, said La Rip, an aid official representing the local Kachin Development Group.
La Rip told The Irrawaddy on Wednesday, “There was a battle 10 miles away from Maijayang yesterday and we heard they started to use three helicopters.” He added that UN humanitarian staff are also stranded in Laiza as they cannot go back to Rangoon due to renewed conflicts along their planned return route.
On Tuesday, the United Nations Children's Fund provided 300 family kits to displaced families in Laiza. These contain blankets, clothes and essential household items for basic domestic needs such as cooking, personal hygiene and shelter.
The government human rights commission reported that there are 59 temporary camps in 11 townships where 14,113 people are cared for by the local authority. There are 51 schools in 10 townships with a student population of 7,872 that have temporarily closed due to the instability caused by armed conflicts.
The human rights commission strongly urged that the concerned armed groups strive for the restoration of security and stability in the region. It also encouraged negotiations which would result in the cessation of hostilities and bring about peace throughout the nation.
The commission welcomed the order by Thein Sein to halt armed conflicts and urged the KIA to respond in the same manner.
But civilians remain angry with their living conditions because Burmese frontline troops continue to attack despite the presidential order to end hostilities, claims La Rip. Because of this, refugees are reportedly refusing to receive rice packs donated by Burmese official Thein Zaw, the second-highest ranked member of the government’s Union Peace Committee.
Ref: Irrawaddy

Posted in: 05. MYANMAR