Civilians displaced by the conflict in Kanpetlet Township will run out of food in just over a month.
According to a representative of a committee helping the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in southern Chin State, most of them buy their rice with the money they earn from growing a type of yam called elephant foot.
But this year they have no savings because Burma Army (BA) offensives and fighting with civilian resistance groups have prevented them from working on their farms.
And if their situation doesn’t improve, everyone will soon have nothing to eat.
“Some people have already run out of food and others have borrowed money. I think 90 percent of the IDPs will have no food by December.”
In late July, fighting between the military and Chinland Defence Forces near Hka Nan village, in Hka Nan village tract, forced 1,500 people from their homes in Hka Nan, Ran Sel, Museim Theim and Myawng villages.
The IDP committee set up two camps for them in Hka Rai and Shin Bawng.
Although a village foundation in Hka Rai has tried to help them, it’s not enough.
Fighting stopped in the township but the military still refuses to allow relief groups to deliver rice and other staples like cooking oil, fish paste and salt to the IDPs.