Internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have sought refuge in urban areas of Mon State are being required to register their names with local ward administrators, starting from February 15, according to local sources.
Those residing in Buddhist monasteries, rental homes, and other temporary shelters in towns such as Mawlamyine, Mudon, and Thanbyuzayat are being instructed to submit their details.
The junta’s state administration has ordered that all IDPs in Mon State register to ensure “accurate records” and notify local administrators before leaving, according to a source close to the authorities.
“The military junta has ordered the collection of IDP records. They claim it is for providing assistance, but they mainly ask how many people have arrived, where they are from, and which villages they fled from. If they leave, they are also required to report back to the authorities,” the source said.
Although the junta claims the registration is for financial aid distribution, many displaced persons have expressed concerns about sharing their personal information.
On February 14, Mon State Chief Minister U Aung Kyi Thein, appointed by the junta, hosted an event at the state hall in Mawlamyine, announcing financial support for IDPs. The junta stated that each displaced person would receive 20,000 kyats, but reports indicate that most IDPs have yet to receive any funds.
“We haven’t received any financial support. Some people returned to their villages because they were told they needed to register first, but travel costs are high, so many have given up. Only a few people in the towns seem to have received the aid, and even then, not everyone,” said a displaced person from the Gyaing River region.
The junta claims to have distributed 3700 lakh kyats in total and provided rice and construction materials through private donors. However, many IDPs in conflict-affected areas like Bilin, Kyaikto, Thaton, Ye, and Thanbyuzayat have reported that they have not received any financial assistance.
Since the military coup, ongoing armed conflict between junta forces and revolutionary groups in Mon State has forced more than 200,000 people to flee their homes, according to IDP monitoring organizations.
