The Joint Strategy Team for Humanitarian Response in Kachin & Northern
Shan States has issued the following statement (also attached as PDF
document) on current Humanitarian crisis in Man Win Gyi areas and
further displacement of over 3,000 IDPs and Refugee in China boarder
area this weekend.
We urge you to share this information.
Sincerely,
BRIDGE, Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC), Kachin Relief and Development
Committee (KRDC), Kachin Women Association (KWA), Kachin Development
Group (KDG), Karuna Myanmar Social Services (KMSS), Metta Development
Foundation, Shalom Foundation and Wunpawng Ninghtoi (WPN)
URGENT RELEASE: HUMANITARIAN CRISIS UPDATE FOR KACHIN STATE AND NORTHERN SHAN STATE
It has been more than 30 months since armed clashes between the
Myanmar government armed forces and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA)
forces were first rekindled in 2011, resulting in more than 120,000
IDPs.
Despite the ongoing peace negotiations, skirmishes between the Myanmar
government armed forces and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) have
been increasing.
Government deployed more armed troops to the current conflict area
based on the census data collection period and it has increased
tension between two armed groups. Fighting between the Myanmar
government army and the KIA broke out on 10th April 2014 close to Man
Win Gyi, southern Kachin State. Recent, Thursday's fighting comes less
than 48 hours after a KIO delegation took part in joint talks in
Yangon involving government officials and the KIO's fellow
representatives from the National Ceasefire Coordination Team
(NCCT).The fighting has affected several villages in the area, which
is located on the borders between Kachin State, northern Shan State,
and China. Four camps are located in close vicinity to the fighting:
Man Wing Gyi Catholic Church and Man Wing Gyi Baptist Church (approx.
2,700 people), Lagat Yang (over 800 people), and Hka Hkye Zup (approx.
190 people). Many of these people have been forced to run away from
their camps. IDPs in these locations had already been displaced during
fighting in November 2013. This will be the third displacement for
some of them.
Under this situation which threats IDPs lives and security and hampers
the peace process, the undersigning organizations, (the Joint Strategy
Team), are actively responding to the urgent needs of IDPs and their
safety and security, with additional support from UNHCR and
international organizations, and want to deliver the following urgent
key messages to all stakeholders are:
1. We urge for an immediate cessation of hostilities: A peaceful
solution to the conflicts in Myanmar is a critical priority for the
future of the country and its people. Both parties should not violate
agreements that have been reached previously and they must implement
the agreements immediately.
2. We call for full respect for the international humanitarian law and
human rights laws. All parties to the conflict (the Myanmar government
armed forces and the KIA) should respect the rights of civilians, and
observe the principles of distinction between civilians and combatants
and take precaution in the case of attacks to avoid civilian victims.
As well as ensuring that civilians are not exposed to any "violence to
life and person, cruel treatment and torture, outrages upon personal
dignity, in particular humiliating and degrading treatment."
3. Protection and safety of the internally displaced persons is an
urgent concern. The children and IDPs themselves will have been
traumatised by recent experiences. All stakeholders should ensure that
IDPs' protection needs and concerns are addressed.
4. We urge the People's Republic of China government to respect the
principle of "non refoulement ", as stated by International
humanitarian law, as well as refugee law and refugees' rights.
5. We call upon all international and national humanitarian
organisations and the donor community to provide the urgently needed
humanitarian assistance and advocacy support. Noting that the
displaced persons have the following immediate humanitarian needs:
protection and safe arrival to other IDP camps; access to foodstuffs,
shelter and non-food items (e.g., blankets and warm clothes). These
IDPs are seeking safety and have no other resources with them.
The facts: The above messages are based on the following facts which
are provoking this dramatic situation:
The Government Army conducted multiple attacks in the Nawng Luk, Nawng
Lum, Lahkum Pa, Nam Hka, Lagat Daw, Gawng Ngu Yang, Nam Hee and Kyawk
Hpya areas in Mansi Townshipduring these few days. The attacks reached
less than 1 kilometer from the Lagat Yang IDP camp, driving over 800
IDPs away while over 2,000 Shan, Kachin and Palaung villagers fled to
the China border. Over 200 IDPs from Lagat Yang camp and over 2,000 of
villagers from Bang Glam, Nam Hi, Na Lung, Nawng Jun, Nawng Luk and
others surrounding villages (from 24 villages) stayed at Shan Buddhist
temple, relatives home and public space of Kachin village at Nawng
Dao village in China.Heavy bombing machine shot by Government army
shield reached to near the Lagat Yang Camp. Provoking more than 1,400
IDPs.
By today (14 April 2014), the situation along the border line in China
side is still chaotic. People's Republic of China authorities,
allowed some IDPs to enter into China as the fighting intensified.
The refugees fled from Hka Hkye camp to Lung Krawk, across the river
in China side. Chinese soldiers are guarding the camp at all time.
Refugees from Shan villages are desperate because they could not
finish their sugarcane harvesting. Most of the villagers in this area
are depending on sugarcane plantations for their livelihood.
14 April 2014; Yangon, Myanmar
BRIDGE, Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC), Kachin Relief and Development
Committee (KRDC), Kachin Women Association (KWA), Kachin Development
Group (KDG), Karuna Myanmar Social Services (KMSS), Metta Development
Foundation, Shalom Foundation and Wunpawng Ninghtoi (WPN)
