Myanmar: Help for displaced children and victims of war

A brutal civil war has been raging in Myanmar since 2021. Even hospitals, schools, and refugee camps are becoming targets of bullets and bombs. The Terre des Hommes partner organization "KNWO"* is providing displaced children in the east of the country with essentials.

Karenni/Kayah state, East Myanmar, February 7, 2024: Military Junta fighter planes open the fire on two school buildings. Four children are killed by bombs and machine gun fire, ten more are injured.

Death, fear and constant threat are terrible everyday life for the children of Myanmar. An open civil war has been raging in the country in the country. More than 50,000 people were killed and about three million driven. Most flee within the country, often into makeshift refugee camps away from any infrastructure.

Civilians will aim

There are hardly any safe places. The front lines are confusing: various regional resistance organizations attack the Tatmadaw with guerrilla tactics-Junta answers with blind violence, often do not distinguish between civilians and fighters.

"In the villages around Loikaw, people's houses are frequently burned down, and heavy weapons are fired upon, even at the displaced persons' camps," reports Maw Byar Mar Oo, a coordinator of Terre des Hommes ' partner KNWO. Originally founded as a women's rights organization, KNWO has focused on emergency aid for children and young people in Karenni State since the outbreak of the war: Maw Byar Mar Oo and her colleagues distribute food, hygiene products, and offer music, sports, dance, and games to help the children temporarily put the images of war behind them.

Knwo is one of the few organizations that still work here. »Three years after the coup, there are fewer and fewer organizations that can provide help for displaced persons. At the same time, the need increases drastically. These children need psychological help, they need food and medical care, and they want to go to school. "

At some point, Maw Byar Mar oo hopes, they will be able to return to a more peaceful life. Even if she knows that it is not so easy: »Most of the people who fled their villages cannot simply return. Because the army moved landmines there. "