Some Kachin refugees to return home this month
The Kachin State government will facilitate the return of some 33 households to their homes by the end of this month, according to Baukjar, the state's minister for social affairs.
About 190 people from 33 households, currently living in camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Lweje, Moemauk Township, will be able to return to their homes in Seinlon Kabar village near the Bahmo-Moemauk-Lweje highway.
“We’ve decided to help relocate 190 people from 33 households, including 62 children, but the decision isn’t final,” Baukjar said.
The ministry of social affairs, relief and resettlement will also provide assistance in the construction of schools and houses for the 33 households.
The state government had also helped relocate more than 100 households living in IDP camps in government-controlled areas in May 2014 to the Ngwe Pyaw village in Myitkyina Township.
However, Aung Swe, the administrator of Ngwe Pyaw village, says long-term living in the village is not possible as there is no land for cultivation and there are few chances of getting jobs though the Ngwe Pyaw villagers still recieve assistance from aid groups.
Because of the clashes between the government and the Kachin Independence Army, there are more than 100,000 IDPs in Kachin State. In the government-controlled area, there are more than 40,000 IDPs and in the Kachin Independence Organisation-controlled area, there are more than 82,000 IDPs.
As the conflicts have lasted well over three years, the houses built for IDPs in 2011 have deteriorated and the major hardship is getting food, according to a committee based in Laiza that is helping the IDPs.
Food shortages occurred at some camps in the KIO-controlled area last July due to delays in assistance, according to Dwe Pisa, chairman of the committee for helping the IDPs.
