Myanmar Humanitarian Aid: IDP & Covid-19 Hardship

မြန်မာပြည်တွင် လူသားချင်းစာနာ ထောက်ထားမှု အကူအညီ အရေးပေါ် လိုအပ်နေပါသည်။

 

Abbreviations:

IDP = Internally Displaced Persons


Update: 2nd November 2021

The pristine, natural beauty of Chin state has been marred by the tracks of army trucks and armoured personnel carriers (APCs). Their muddy, blood-stained military boots are found crushing and oppressing the already poverty stricken Chin State. As their military convoy moves through Chin State, it leaves behind blackened skies, burnt and looted houses and destroyed livelihoods even going so far as to slaughter livestock of poor rural farmers. Their cruelty, oppression, hatred, and disdain for the people so evident in their acts of terror and unjust violence. Their most recent victim: the serene, idyllic town of Thantlang. Nestled on the road to Hakha, the capital of Chin State, the town was gorgeous and known for being home to some of the warmest, most welcoming people. Yet now, it is known for being an abandoned town, its citizens having been forced into the jungle, burnt down buildings and destroyed homes. The homes of over 160 families burnt down as the junta shelled the now-abandoned town in retaliation for their inability to “put down” the people’s resistance. In addition to the homes and hearths of the people, the inferno claimed one of Thanthlang’s Presbyterian churches, the Church on the Rock and the office of Save the Children. We will not forgive. We will not forget. 

This campaign is run by Myanmar Students’ Association Australia (MSAA), a non-profit organisation established in Australia, to provide assistance and channel funds to areas affected by ongoing humanitarian crises in Myanmar.

Humanitarian Assistance towards Chin State, Myanmar:

A vast span of civilian infrastructure, as well as, places of worship in Thantlang, Chin state were destroyed after airstrikes conducted by the SAC as of 30 October, 2021.

As of reports today, it is estimated that 10,000 inhabitants at Thantlang will be displaced without home and proper shelter due to the fact that the fire continued to raze across the town in the aftermath of the attacks. 

As SAC has continuously showcased failure to respect international humanitarian law and protect civilians in the nation, the scale of atrocities is only expected to increase within the region.

MSAA has launched this campaign to address the immediate need of support to the Chin community and other areas within Chin state affected by the systemic violence by the SAC’s security forces.

Any donation will reach the people of Chin State suffering at the hands of military oppression. The donation will be made to Asia Frontier Outreach and funds are to be deployed for food, shelter and other supplies for the people of Thantlang and Chin State.



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Myanmar Students’ Association Australia (MSAA) is launching its Second Campaign. We would like to express our deep gratitude to all the communities and individuals who donated to our First Campaign for CDM Heroes in Myanmar. Thank you for your kindness and compassion. We hereby once again call on the Australian and International Communities to provide support for the people of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

This campaign is dedicated to the Humanitarian Aid for Two-fold National Crisis which is currently occurring in Myanmar.

IDP stands for internally displaced persons, and they are a vast number of communities in the regional state areas of Myanmar driven away from their homes, towns, and villages, brutally by the military. Their homes have been burnt, women have been raped, and families murdered just because they refuse to bow under the regime.

 

 

The photo represents the hardship and harsh living conditions of IDPs stranded on banks of the Salween River in March 2021. Source: myanmar-now.org

 

According to the UNHCR, approximately Two Hundred Thousand (200,000) people have been added to the record of Internally Displaced People (IDPs) since the Military Coup began on 1 February 2021. Those IDPs are from the states of Kayah, Karen, Kachin and Chin where the conflicts between the ethnic armed groups and the military are ongoing. These people, including women, children and elders, do not have proper shelters and are suffering from hunger, health insecurity and brutalization by the military that are burning houses, raping women and killing families.

At the same time, the outbreak of COVID-19 in Myanmar has reached a new peak with more than 6,000 new cases and an estimated 200 deaths per day. People are dying all across the country due to oxygen deficiency and lack of healthcare. Moreover, the Junta does not provide the required facilities (such as hygienic quarantine centers which meet health standards) even in urban areas. People from displaced communities have no access to oxygen tanks and struggle to find food.

All funds raised from this Humanitarian Aid Campaign will be donated to the IDPs from particular states within Myanmar to provide daily essential necessities (food, drinking water, shelter, sanitary to medicine aid and medical supplies) and health supplies for COVID-19 (oxygen tanks or concentrators) through various trusted local organizations.

Who will Benefit:

All funds raised from this Humanitarian Aid Campaign will be donated to the IDPs from particular states that are hit the most currently within Myanmar to provide daily essential necessities (food, drinking water, shelter, sanitary to medicine aid and medical supplies) and health supplies for COVID-19 (oxygen tanks or concentrators) through various trusted local organizations. Every donation of any amount is greatly appreciated and could help save many lives.

 

How soon do we need funds:

We need the funds and resources as soon as possible. The IDPs and communities affected by covid-19 are suffering at the very minute right now and every single day. They need adequate food and access to resources immediately in order to survive. As the transaction of funds raised to the affected areas and camps will take long, the sooner we get the funds, the sooner we can prepare the transactions and obtain the essential resources to reach for the people in dire need.

 

Where are we donating and what the funds will be used for:

We'll donate to the below organizations of four states:

 

1. Asia Frontier Outreach

2. Kachin Alliance

 

 

Information on Organizations:

 

• For Kayah/ Karenni State (South-Eastern part of Myanmar):

§ Asia Frontier Outreach (AFO) -Thailand has been a consistent partner in providing support for Kayah State. AFO operates children homes in Myanmar and participate in multiple education and humanitarian projects in Southeast Asia. AFO will receive the donations in Thailand for cooperation and then transfer the funds forward as appropriate depending on the expense requirements. 

 

 

These Images showcase IDPs displaced from their home state of Karen. Source: Karen Peace Support Network

 

 

• For Kachin State (Northern part of Myanmar):

§ Kachin Alliance is a firm and eligible network organization in the United States, representing all the Kachin communities from Myanmar with objectives to advocate peace, justice and rights of Kachin people. The Kachin Alliance Organization is highly reputable and is supported by 95% of the Kachin population in the United States. The primary activities of Kachin Alliance cover support for Kachin IDPs and fundraising for Emergency Relief Efforts. According to information gained from KAO there are 10 main humanitarian aid organizations inside military junta held areas while KIO/KIA controlled territory’s humanitarian activities are led by a combination of KIA/KIO and religious sector groups. 

 

 

 

Every donation of any amount is greatly appreciated and could help save many lives.