Internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in western Demoso Township, Karenni State, have been facing shortages of rice and other basic food supplies for the last two months, according to volunteers assisting them.

They said that about 2,200 IDPs in seven camps are in urgent need of rice and food supplies.

"They are in dire need of food supplies. When any camp receives two or three rice bags from the donors, they have to share the rice in cans for each family. We witnessed their difficulties at some camps on a one-day visit. Similar problems are likely to occur at other camps”, said one of the volunteers.

International non-governmental organisations (INGOs) give money to the IDPs so that they can buy food, but unfortunately, it is insufficient for the IFDPs to properly feed themselves.

To make matters worse the junta is making it hard to get supplies to the IDPs.

“The Military Council forces are conducting arrests and inspections of food and medicine transports in Karenni State, so even if you have money, it is difficult to buy food”, said a representative of an IDP charity.

The Medic Unit - Demoso, which provided health care to more than 50 IDPs on 1 April, announced that high blood pressure, diabetes and diarrhea are common among IDPs in the western part of Demoso.

The Karenni Army (KA), and Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) joint forces are fighting against the military in Demoso Township.

There has been regular fighting in the east of Demoso Township since last March and there are still columns of junta troops in the area.

“The conflict is ongoing every day. Heavy artillery is being used by the military council side”, said an official from the KNDF Central News and Information Department.

The Karenni State IDP Assistance Network reported at the end of February 2023 that there were over 21,000 IDPs in Demoso's western region and over 200,000 IDPs in all of Karenni State.