Residents displaced by the junta’s airstrikes in southern Kale Township, Sagaing Region, unable to return home are facing food shortages due to a lack of food.
Since 31 January, over 10,000 residents from 15 villages in southern Kale Township have been displaced due to the junta’s relentless airstrikes, which have continued for nearly three months.
“Displaced people are struggling to access clean water as they are forced to take shelter in forests and along creeks. The grassroots communities are facing severe hardships, with poor health, limited access to water, and difficulties in sustaining their livelihoods. Even though we have one or two Pyi of rice, it is not enough,” said a local from Kokeko village.
Displaced people report that it is challenging to contact donors and aid workers from Kale Township for food assistance due to phone line outages caused by the junta’s airstrikes.
According to the displaced people, returning to their villages is difficult as the military council continues to conduct aerial surveillance and bombings nearly every day in southern Kale Township.
“The people from Kokko, Shar Daw, Yae Shin, and the eastern part of Myit Thar remain displaced. Those from Kokko, Lel Char, and Shar Daw villages are facing even greater difficulties. They cannot return to their villages and are too afraid to stay there as planes fly overhead constantly.
They have to hide in the forests when the planes are in the sky. So, we are forced to flee to safer places,” the IDPs said.
Displaced people from southern Kale Township are suffering from diarrhea due to contaminated drinking water. They are in urgent need of medicine for treatment, food including rice, waterproof, and solar panels.