Displaced residents in Lay Kay Kaw, Myawaddy Township, Karen State, are experiencing increasing cases of skin irritation and scabies due to a lack of clean water, according to aid workers assisting displaced communities.
Since the military coup, fighting and airstrikes in the Lay Kay Kaw area have forced more than 3,000 residents from over 1,000 households in Lay Kay Kaw, Minletpan, Yathaytgu, Hpalu, and Mehtawthalay villages to seek shelter for extended periods at the Palaw Ta Poe displacement camp, along the Thaungyin River, and in areas near the Thailand-Myanmar border.
Most displaced people at the camp, including children, are suffering from skin-related illnesses caused by unclean drinking and household water, as well as poor living conditions and seasonal weather changes, said Ma Naw Jack, an official from a displacement assistance group.
“When water is pumped from the Thaungyin River, it is muddy. People who use it are developing scabies and skin irritation. It is not suitable for long-term use. Many displaced people have scabies on their hands, feet, and bodies, along with rashes and skin lesions,” she said.
She added that some people have experienced itching and skin rashes for more than two weeks after developing scabies, followed by numbness and body aches.
Ma Naw Jack said water purification systems are urgently needed to provide safe drinking and household water for displaced residents.
“Displaced people are facing difficulties obtaining clean water for drinking, cooking, and daily use. Even after storing the water and treating it with alum, it remains unclean. That is why we urgently need water purification machines,” she said.
Saw Eh Doh Wah, an official from the Karen Support Network, said health authorities should provide medical treatment as soon as possible to prevent the spread of contagious skin diseases within the camp.
“In a situation like this, relevant health departments need to provide healthcare services. Food assistance is important, but healthcare support is equally necessary during this period,” he said.
Since the military coup, intense fighting between military junta forces and joint revolutionary forces has frequently occurred in the Lay Kay Kaw area as both sides compete for territorial control. Ongoing insecurity has forced thousands of local residents to flee to areas along the Thai border, and many have still been unable to return home.
Local sources said restrictions imposed by the military junta on the transportation of food supplies into the area have left displaced communities largely dependent on ethnic civil society organizations and international donors for food assistance and healthcare support.
