The report said the number of IDPs in Burma swelled as a result of the conflicts between the Burmese Army and armed rebels amidst continued human rights violations.
The report said that in eastern Burma, particularly in Karen, Karenni, Shan, and Mon states and Tenasserim division, IDPs are mainly the result of the Burmese military-government’s human rights violations.
“IDPs living in areas in Myanmar [Burma] still affected by armed conflict between the army and insurgent groups remained the most vulnerable, with their priority needs tending to be related to physical security, food, shelter, health and education,” said the report.
“Humanitarian access to this population continued to be very restricted,” added the report.
The report said, new IDPs in 2008 have been seen in Chin State in western Burma, as several people are reportedly fleeing to neighbouring India to avoid human rights violations. They are faced with extreme food insecurity after rat infestation in the state which destroyed livelihoods.
Similarly, in Arakan State in western Burma there were approximately about 80,000 IDPs in 2007, living and hiding in temporary settlements in jungles as conflicts increased between the Arakan Liberation Army, an armed rebel group, and the Burmese Army.
Besides, the May 2-3 Cyclone Nargis that lashed the country left an initial displacement of 800,000 people while severely affecting 2.4 million people the report said.
A Thailand-based Burmese human rights activist Aung Myo Min said, the increase in IDPs shows that the situation of human rights in Burma is getting worse and it requires an effective response from the international community.
“It shows that there is an increase in human rights abuses in Burma by the military government,” said Aung Myo Min.
He said the future of the children of the IDPs is unimaginable as their parents continue hiding in the jungles and there is also a lack of security for women.
“With the situation getting worse there will be more IDPs because the military regime is continuing to violate human rights,” he added.
He said the situation calls for the international community to respond to the continued human rights violations in Burma, and the need for international assistance to the IDPs.
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