05/19/2021 Myanmar (International Christian Concern) – Since the Feb. 1 coup, which resulted in the demise of Aung San Suu Kyi’s democratically elected civilian government, the fighting between the Burmese Army (Tatmadaw) and the ethnic Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has intensified, reaching a boiling point in the northern states in the last several weeks.

The 166 refugee camps located in the northern states of Kachin and Shan have filled with more than 100,000 refugees since the fighting began in 2011. With the escalation in fighting seen near the northern border over the past three months, over 3,000 additional Kachin residents are internally displaced. Thirteen new refugee camps have recently been created in the majority-Christian Kachin state in order to handle the influx.

Bishop Raymond Sumlut Gam of Banmaw told UCA News that the Church has provided shelter, food, and non-food items in addition to collecting donations from parishes and using Lenten funds for the humanitarian response in light of the arrival of more IDP’s to the area. He also stated that, “the situation remains tense as gunfire is still heard in Mansi township, although there has been a lull in intense fighting in Momauk township for three days.”

The KIA acknowledges the importance of the relief work being conducted by churches and other religious groups for refugees internally displaced within the Kachin province. KIA information officer Col. Naw Bu adds, “It is a bit inconvenient for us to go into the [townships] to help them ourselves.”

Despite the efforts of local churches, food aid to these refugees has been impeded for the past several weeks as Myanmar’s military rulers block the roads leading to the camps. “The most difficult thing is the military blockade of our food transport routes,” said  , chairman of the Kachin Baptist Church (KBC), which is working to send help to villagers displaced by the fighting.

For interviews, please contact Addison Parker: [email protected].