01/07/2020 Myanmar (International Christian Concern) – A lack of trust and regional insecurity are two key factors keeping Myanmar’s Karen people from returning home, according to a recent report from the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre.

The ongoing clashes between the Burmese government and a local armed ethnic group dissuades the Christian-majority Burmese Karens from returning. According to the report, one third of the interviewed group of Karens said they had been displaced more than five times.

Those who are currently displaced cite the main causes as direct attacks on their villages, persecution at the hands of the government and forced recruitment. About 95,000 displaced Karens are living across nine refugee camps in Thailand as a result of the instability.

Media attention surrounding armed conflict in Myanmar often centers around the very real plight of the Rohingya people. However, the Christian-majority ethnic groups of Karen and Kachin have continued to suffer from similar armed conflict. The lower levels of return for those currently displaced causes concern for the longevity of the ethnic group in Myanmar.

For interviews, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: [email protected].