Myanmar: Food transports for Karen IDPs halted

By SAW YAN NAING
Relief Web

The closure of a border crossing in the Thai province of Mae Hong Son has left more than 3,900 internally displaced persons in Burma without access to food or medicine, say sources in the area.

The border checkpoint at the village of Mae Sam Laep has been closed since Karen rebels attacked Burmese soldiers on the Salween River on February 24.

Nearly four thousand ethnic Karen IDPs sheltering in the Ei Tu Hta camp, located about two hours by boat from the border crossing, are facing an uncertain future, as Thai authorities have given no indication when they will allow border trade to resume.

'We are not allowed to send anything,' Maw Law, a relief coordinator for the Karen Office of Relief and Development (KORD), told The Irrawaddy on Wednesday.

'If they (Thai authorities) keep the border shut all month, people in the camp will definitely face difficulties,' she added.

Although a partial shipment of rice has been sent to the Ei Tu Hta camp, other food supplies, such as oil and salt, have not been allowed to cross the border, according to Maw Law.

For more than two weeks, border trade in Mae Sam Laep has been almost at a standstill, following an attack on Burmese soldiers being transported across the Salween River in a boat owned by a local businessman.

Ten soldiers were wounded in the attack, which was carried out by members of the Karen National Liberation Army, the military wing of the Karen National Union (KNU).

According to Maw Law, there are currently 3,998 IDPs sheltering in the Ei Tu Hta camp, including 118 who fled Burmese Army offensives against Karen rebels in February.

The camp was established in 2006, in response to attacks on Karen villagers by the Burmese Army, which often targets civilians in its ongoing conflict with ethnic rebels.

A number of relief groups, including the Committee for Internally Displaced Karen People, the Karen Women's Organization and the Karen Teacher Working Group, are involved in efforts to provide food, healthcare and education to inhabitants of the camp.

According to sources, KNU leaders are waiting to talk with local Thai authorities to negotiate a reopening of the border.

Meanwhile, businessmen in the area have also expressed frustration with the border closure, which is believed to be costing the local economy about 100,000 baht a day in lost income.