{"id":76390,"date":"2020-08-14T13:01:18","date_gmt":"2020-08-14T17:01:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.freeburmarangers.org\/?p=76390"},"modified":"2020-08-14T13:01:18","modified_gmt":"2020-08-14T17:01:18","slug":"chin-state-civilians-face-shortages-food-medicine-educational-supplies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.freeburmarangers.org\/my\/2020\/08\/14\/chin-state-civilians-face-shortages-food-medicine-educational-supplies\/","title":{"rendered":"Chin State civilians face shortages of food, medicine, and educational supplies"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chin State civilians face shortages of food, medicine, and educational supplies<\/h1>\n

14\u00a0August 2020<\/em><\/p>\n

Chin State, Burma<\/p>\n

\"The
The remains of Wohmah Village after the Burma Army bombed it on March 17. As village bombings continue, villagers\u00a0are forced to flee their homes and relocate to IDP camps.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

**Warning: This report contains graphic photos**<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thousands of villagers who have fled to internally displaced person (IDP) camps because of recent airstrikes and ongoing conflict in Chin State are now lacking basic necessities. From June 17 to June 30, 2020, Rangers traveled to Paletwah Township\u00a0to provide assistance to the growing Paletwah and Sami IDP camps. They documented nearly 7,000 IDPs within the camps. Other NGOs and churches are operating in the area\u00a0but are unable to meet the growing needs of the camp populations.<\/p>\n

IDPs in this region face an uncertain future as they are unable to find work outside the camps. Access to the camps is difficult as the Burma Army has blocked the entrances as well as set up seven\u00a0checkpoints\u00a0along the 30-mile route from Paletwah to Sami.\u00a0This has also created opportunities for extortion; Rangers reported\u00a0that Burma Army soldiers ask for 4,000 kyat per bag of rice being transported between camps.<\/p>\n

During the mission, the team prayed that they would be able to visit the Sami IDP camp and provide medical assistance. They were granted permission by one village leader to enter, but they slept on the outside of\u00a0villagers\u2019\u00a0homes due to concern about\u00a0the\u00a0coronavirus.<\/p>\n

\"Teachers
Teachers helping to distribute T-shirts to IDPs.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Many in the camp suffer from anemia, kidney problems, gastritis, dysentery, the common cold, or some combination of\u00a0ailments\u00a0and are unable receive proper medical attention. The Burma\u00a0Army required the team to deliver the team’s medicine to the hospital rather than directly to the IDPs. However, the medical staff at the Sami hospital were greatly encouraged at\u00a0the Rangers\u2019 arrival.<\/p>\n

In addition to being undersupplied, transport from where the IDPs live to the hospital remains a problem for prospective patients, as the trip is long enough to require a car and not everyone has the means to pay for a ride. Furthermore, ambulances are not a reliable option due to the poor road conditions in\u00a0rainy season.<\/p>\n

Many of the children lack education as fighting continues in their villages. In the Sami IDP camp, the education leaders told the\u00a0Rangers they are preparing for school but are unsure how to accommodate the large number of children. They are also in need of books and other basic school supplies \u2014\u00a0the prices of which have risen\u2014\u00a0rendering them unaffordable to most families.<\/p>\n

And while\u00a0COVID-19 means fewer Good Life Club (GLC) gatherings for the time being, the\u00a0Rangers were granted permission to run a GLC program in one camp. Many children and parents attended, and the team reports they were very excited and had never seen anything like it before. The Rangers handed out GLC\u00a0T-shirts, shared lessons about health care, and were able to encourage the children to not fear in the face of fighting.<\/p>\n

\"Handing
Handing out school supplies.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"The
The end of a Good Life Club program.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"New
New living quarters being constructed at Sami IDP Camp.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"The
The Matupi to Sami-Paletwah road.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Burma
Burma Army trucks carrying rice between camps.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"A
A woman injured in the Burma Army bombing of Wohmah Village on March 17.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"A
A child from Wohmah Village killed when Burma Army jets bombed the village on March 17.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n