By Daniel Harris

03/30/2017 Washington, D.C. (International Christian Concern) – Civilians in Burma’s Kachin State have fled the violence initiated by a conflict between the Burma Army (BA) and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). The violence forced civilians to flee from their homes to an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp called Zai Aung in 2011.

In November 2016, the IDP camp was attacked sporadically for almost a month. Helicopter, fighter jet, and shelling attacks endangered the IDPs and forced them to flee the camps. The IDPs left at least three times, but returned each time. Eventually, the Burmese Army made it impossible for the IDPs to stay, so they relocated to Sha It Yang.

Now, high in the Kachin Mountains along the border with China, IDPs live among acres of blue tarps erected into makeshift shelters. One person from every household assists with camp work, including gathering bamboo for building homes and wood for fires, which is especially necessary on frost-covered mornings.

La Hpai, a mother in the IDP community, shared her story of fleeing Zai Aung. A single basket holds her few possessions. Like the IDPs, her home is a plastic sheet draped across some bamboo. However, gesturing towards her son, tears flooded her eyes. She is losing hope for herself and the next generation. She cannot afford her son’s schooling fees after fleeing into the mountains. He would not have a chance to graduate and achieve a better life for himself. His future troubled La Hpai more than living in the cold, underneath a dusty piece of tarp.

In response, International Christian Concern (ICC) donated money toward a local organization that works to provide assistance to displaced people in Burma. This organization used those funds to purchase food and medical aid in the camp. Although the needs among the IDPs are great, the donations provided assistance.

One family shared how their baby had severe diarrhea and could not eat or drink anything. However, after receiving both medicine and prayers, the child began to recover. After a few days, the mother returned, joyful that her child was healing. Along with the donations, ICC provides continuous prayer for those suffering.