The Karen Peace Support Network (KPSN) is urging that international assistance, currently being channeled through the military-affiliated administrative body, instead be directly delivered to organizations working along the border that assist internally displaced persons (IDPs). One of the reasons being corruption has resulted in only a very small portion of aid reaching displaced people in Mon, Karen, and Tanintharyi regions.
International donors currently send financial assistance and food supplies to relevant embassies in Myanmar, which then transfer those resources to ministries under the military junta.
Previously, aid that reached the military junta was only partially distributed to displaced populations. According to KPSN officials, the situation has now worsened to the point where virtually no assistance reaches those in need.
KPSN coordinator Saw Eh Doh Wah told IMNA that due to widespread corruption within Myanmar’s administrative system, aid does not reach displaced people as intended.
“As we all know, corruption in Myanmar’s governance system is widespread. Because of this, the aid does not fully reach the people who actually need it. It might only reach about 5 percent, or even 1 percent of the intended recipients. By the time it reaches IDP areas, maybe only around 10 percent remains,” he said.
He also added that although displaced people in the Myawaddy and Kawkareik areas have occasionally received assistance distributed by the military junta using support provided by USAID, the aid is still not fully delivered to those in need.
Because of this, KPSN is urging both local and international donors not to channel humanitarian assistance through the military junta. Instead, they are encouraged to directly support organizations working with displaced communities along the border.
KPSN stated that it currently acts as a coordination network between international and local donors and 22 organizations providing assistance to displaced people in Mon, Karen, Tanintharyi, and Bago regions. These groups work on issues such as food security, education, healthcare, and support for women and children, based on the needs of displaced communities.
“We do not directly distribute aid to displaced people in conflict areas. We have 22 partner organizations. Depending on the needs of displaced communities, those organizations go and provide assistance. What we want to emphasize is that donors should collaborate only with NGOs and CSOs that can directly reach displaced people. We continuously call on international donors to support only such organizations,” said KPSN coordinator Saw Eh Doh Wah.
Due to ongoing fighting and airstrikes in several townships across Mon, Karen, and Tanintharyi regions, the number of displaced people continues to rise. At the same time, declining donor support, rising commodity prices, and increasing healthcare needs are further worsening the humanitarian situation.
