Kyauk Taw IDP camp moves to new place without government assistance

Narinjara News, 5 May 2023

More than 60 IDP households of Wa Taung refugee camp in Kyauk Taw township has moved to a new place without any government assistance after the owner of the land ended the renting deal.

A camp official informed that lease of the original land for Wa Taung refugee camp had expired, and the landowner did not prefer to renew it.

"We want to go back to our native village, but the present situation is not suitable for our return. Moreover, we have to think about the education to our children. So, we are not returning to our village, but shifting to a new location,” he added.

The new location, which is 800 feet away from Taungmin Kalar IDP camp, has about two acres of land and the annual rent has been fixed for Kyats 2,400,000.

"The displaced families have to pay Kyats 30,000 per head. In the time of food crisis, they also have to contribute. The amount is higher for every family and hence we are yet to clear all dues to the landowner,” he added.

There are presently 66 households (361 people) in Wa Taung refugee camp and most of them belong to Mro and Khami ethnic communities.

Currently, IDPs from Wa Taung refugee camp are busy building their houses on the new place and hence most of them are taking shelter in temporary tents. So, they are facing a lot of difficulties including the shortage of food items.

The war refugees in the camp hail from a number of villages including Kha Muang, Thein Chaung, Tea Wa, Le Kwe, Pai Nyar Gyi, Nga Sa Rai Kai, Chin Ma Wantaung and Kan Bi. They escaped their places last year when the gunfighting between the Burmese forces and Arakan Army members intensified.