According to the Nway Oo Metta Displaced Persons Assistance Group, ongoing clashes in Tanintharyi Township’s Theinkhun, Nyaungpinkwin, and Htonmakhar villages have left more than 4,000 displaced residents with severe health issues.
Many are suffering from skin infections, respiratory illnesses, and diarrheal diseases due to poor living conditions and limited access to healthcare.
Since December 2024, displaced individuals have suffered outbreaks of skin diseases and diarrhoea. By January, respiratory illnesses, including pneumonia, runny nose, and cough, began to spread.
Due to the prolonged conflict, displaced individuals have been forced to take refuge in remote forested areas, where they have been for up to three months. They are suffering from food shortages, inadequate shelter, and a lack of clean drinking water. These conditions have resulted in both physical health issues and mental health challenges.
A representative from the Nway Oo Metta Displaced Persons Assistance Group stated, “Fighting has erupted in villages, forcing residents to flee immediately, often with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Prolonged displacement, combined with inadequate nutrition, poor living conditions, and a lack of clean water, has severely impacted their health. Malnutrition has weakened their immune systems, making them more susceptible to diseases.”
In conflict-affected areas of Tanintharyi Region, the military junta has restricted the transport of rice, food supplies, and medicine to certain townships since 2023. As a result, goods are being transported through forest routes.
Elderly individuals with chronic illnesses are facing severe shortages of essential medicines. Healthcare providers have minimal resources to administer treatment. There is an urgent need for medical assistance to address this crisis.
The individual stated, “There is a significant shortage of medicines. This is due to ongoing conflicts, which prevents timely availability of essential medications. Some medicines we require are not available for purchase. Displaced persons are constantly on the move, which complicates the delivery of care. As a result, when we administer treatment, we are often only able to provide three days’ worth of medication instead of the full five days required.”
According to the Nway Oo Metta Displaced Person’s Assistance Group, as of now, around 1,700 displaced individuals in Theinkhun village and Nyaungpinkwin, and approximately 600 individuals in Htonmakhar, are facing outbreaks of diseases.
Since December 18, 2024, the military junta has been trying to regain control of the Maw Taung-Tanintharyi Road, resulting in daily clashes. In addition to the ground battles, the military has conducted airstrikes and bombings on villages within Tanintharyi Township, causing widespread destruction. These attacks have left homes in flames.
The ongoing violence has also led to significant displacement, forcing many families to flee their homes and seek refuge in neighbouring areas.
According to a report from the FE5 Tanintharyi Research Group, the number of displaced individuals in the Tanintharyi Region has reached over 77,000 as of January, primarily due to ongoing conflict and instability.
