Weekly Briefing Note Southeastern Myanmar 22 - 28 May 2021 (Limited Distribution) This weekly briefing note, covering humanitarian developments in Southeastern Myanmar from 22 to 28 May, is produced by the Kayin Inter-Agency Coordination of the Southeastern Myanmar Working Group. Highlights • The humanitarian situation severely deteriorated throughout Kayah State, especially in Loikaw and Demoso Townships over the week and has resulted in the displacement of more than 70,000 people since 20 May 2021. • Clashes between the Karen National Union (KNU) and Myanmar Military Forces (MAF) continued in Kayin State and Eastern Bago. • Armed conflict, movement restrictions, landmine risks and displacement continue to severely impact communities, particularly in socio-economic terms. Commodity prices have increased, unemployment is high, and local populations are unable to continue their livelihoods activities. • In areas where fighting is more sporadic, Internally Displaced Populations (IDPs) remain in hiding due to the unpredictability of the situation and fear of further attacks, particularly airstrikes. • Displaced populations continue to have limited access to food, shelter, hygiene and sanitation. Humanitarian Situation The security situation continues to be tense in southeastern Myanmar with indiscriminate mortar shelling, deployment of armed forces and explosions in various locations. Intensified clashes were particularly observed in Kayah State, eastern Bago Region and Kayin State during the week. In Kayin State, clashes between the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF) were observed in Ma Htaw and Khway Thay villages in Hpapun Township on 21 and 22 May 20211 2 3 and in Wah Lu, Mae Waing, Hpar Loh Doh and Hpar Loh Pho areas, as well as on the road between Hpapun and Ka Taing Ti in Hpapun Township on 24 and 25 May 2021.4 5 Two landmine incidents were reported from Hpapun Township, near War Tho Kho village, on the road between Kamamaung and Hpapun on 24 and 25 May 2021. Two persons were injured as a result. 6 Populations living in the villages along the Myanmar-Thailand border, near Salween River, continue to live in fear. According to some reports, some villagers from Mae Kha Hta area moved to safer places on 23 May 2021 due to fear of escalating fighting at the Myanmar-Thailand Border.7 Furthermore, due to air surveillance over the Way Bu Hta village on Salween riverbank on 26 May 2021, some villagers reportedly fled and hid in the jungle. Yet, no airstrikes were launched according to the reports.8 1 https://www.facebook.com/KNUDOIHQ/posts/1440455073003478 2 https://www.facebook.com/KNUDOIHQ/posts/1439619529753699 3 https://www.facebook.com/KNUDOIHQ/posts/1439216449794007 4 https://www.facebook.com/KNUDOIHQ/posts/1442577659457886 5 https://www.facebook.com/KNUDOIHQ/posts/1442284442820541 6 http://burmese.dvb.no/archives/465993 7 https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=3776221385822167&id=422055381238801 8 https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=3786063894837916&id=422055381238801 1 The Karen Peace Support Network (KPSN) released a situation report on Kayin State on 25 May 2021. 9According to the report, the KPSN recorded a total of 27 air attacks and 575 mortar shells fired by the MAF to civilian areas in Hpapun District of Kayin State between 27 March and 7 May 2021. According to Dakkhina Insight news, a total of 35 people were killed, 620 people were arbitrarily arrested by security forces and 139 out of 620 people were released in Tanintharyi Region between 1 February and 20 May 2021.10 On 23 May 2021, military deployments by the MAF were observed in Thayetchaung Township (KNU Brigade 4 area). As a result, some villagers fled while others were arrested.11 Two explosions were reported from two schools in Dawei Township on 24 May 2021. No casualties were reported.12 Military deployment to the area suggests possible confrontations in the region in the coming days. Confrontation between the KNU and MAF continued in eastern Bago Region throughout the week. Several clashes and indiscriminate mortar shelling by the MAF were reported from Kyaukkyi Township. 13 14 The humanitarian situation in Kayah State has deteriorated since 20 May 2021 due to intensified armed conflict in Loikaw and Demoso Townships. On 24 May 2021, clashes around Loikaw continued and the Karenni People’s Defense Force (KPDF) fired at a government office. Armed clashes were also observed between the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) and MAF in Lokhar Lo village in Maw Chi region. Indiscriminate mortar shelling towards a Catholic church in Loikaw was reported on 23 May 2021 which resulted in the deaths of four civilians and injury of more than eight persons. According to a statement of the Cardinal of the Catholic church, 15the church building was damaged and many civilians had to flee to the jungle. Many of them are in urgent need of food, medicine and hygiene support. In addition, attacks on police stations in Loikaw and Demoso Townships were reported on 26 and 27 May 2021. According UNHCR estimates that as of 28 May 2021, approximately 148,900 people were displaced in Southeastern Myanmar. Of these, 45,000 are displaced in Kayin State, 100,000 in Kayah, 2,900 in eastern Bago Region and 1,000 in Mon State. According to the official figures of the Royal Thai Government, over 1,000 refugees remain displaced in Thailand as of 24 May 2021. The impact of armed conflict and displacement on communities remains severe. Daily clashes between the MAF and KNU, road blockages, landmine risks, movement restrictions and increased commodity prices and unemployment pose significant socio-economic challenges to local communities in Hpapun Township of Kayin State.16 IDPs are widely dispersed across a large geographical area, living in basic conditions with limited access to food, healthcare, and shelter materials. In areas where fighting is more sporadic, the vast majority prefer to remain in hiding due to the unpredictability of the situation and fears of further attacks, particularly airstrikes. Air reconnaissance in various locations, particularly along the Thai border since March 2021 continue to cause fear among villagers and trigger the displacement of civilians who fear airstrikes. 9 https://www.facebook.com/KPSN.karen/posts/2964050920538496 10 https://www.facebook.com/dakkhinanews/posts/305176447904938 11 https://www.facebook.com/dakkhinanews/posts/306459107776672 12 https://www.facebook.com/dakkhinanews/posts/306609824428267 13 https://www.facebook.com/KNUDOIHQ/posts/1443233656058953 14 https://www.facebook.com/KNUDOIHQ/posts/1442240402824945 15 https://twitter.com/cardinal_bo/status/1397229937325662223 16 http://burmese.dvb.no/archives/465981 2 Reponses As needs grow, local responders’ capacities are increasingly stretched and require additional financial support to reach the most vulnerable among displaced communities. UN agencies and NGOs are mobilizing funds and humanitarian support to address these urgent and life-saving needs. Despite challenges, efforts are underway to deliver humanitarian support to those in need. In collaboration with UNICEF, Community Partners International (CPI) will provide Hygiene kits to IDPs affected by recent conflicts in Hpapun Township. Moreover, UNICEF and CPI have been planning to provide education services for children affected by the recent conflicts in Kayin State. With the assistance from Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and Access to Health (ATH), medical supplies are also being supported to Ethnic Health Organization partners to be able to provide primary health care services for the population in the affected areas. Under the support of Myanmar Humanitarian Fund (MHF), CPI and its local partner have been organizing awareness raising sessions on mine risk reduction, sexual and reproductive health, gender based violence, child protection and human trafficking in Myaing Gyi Ngu camp 2 at Hlaing Bwe township, Kayin State. During this week, Norwegian Refugee Council’s (NRC) shelter team provided shelter and emergency kits to 85 displaced households in eastern Bago Region. It also continued to explore the option of reaching newly displaced populations in eastern Bago Region, Kayah and Kayin States. The education team continued its coaching, monitoring and follow up of vocational training graduated youth in Kayin State and Tanintharyi Region with the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) survey. NRC is also conducting a vocational need assessment in Tatnintharyi Region. The counselling and legal assistance team meanwhile, delivered its assessments and case follow up on civil documentation, with plans for legal identity training in Hpa-an, Kayin State this week. The livelihood and food security team continues its need assessment at Hlaing Bwe Township in Kayin State. The Business Eye Opening training was completed at Kaw Tha Say villages in Shwe Kyin Township, eastern Bago Region. Coordination Recent developments require the scaling up of the humanitarian response, along with increased coordination among local and international organizations. Two refresher trainings on contingency planning were delivered to partners in the Southeast on 26 May 2021 by SEWG. Trainings aimed to strengthen the capacity of partners in emergency response planning and will be proceeded with validation workshops, where previously agreed humanitarian scenarios will be discussed and updated. Validation workshops will be followed by sectorial planning exercise. Contingency planning will strengthen the collective efforts of partners towards meeting the evolving needs in the region. The evolving situation in Kayin State has led to new displacements in the Hpapun area and increase of IDPs in Myaing Gyi Ngu IDP camp. Access to the affected populations to conduct needs assessments and respond to immediate life-saving needs remain significantly challenging for humanitarian organizations. The Kayin Protection Network meeting took place on 28 May 2021 to define a strategy for joint advocacy to ensure access and delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance to the displaced population. 3 Annex 4 .