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KARENNI STATE – More than 400 children under the age of five, among the internally displaced people (IDPs) from Dawnoeku who are currently seeking temporary shelter in Thailand due to junta airstrikes on July 12, are at risk of malnutrition as they are not receiving sufficient nutrition, according to Naw Khu Phaw, the director of Karenni Health Department.
“We have over 400 children under the age of five. Initially, we provided them with soy milk. However, we still haven’t received any support from donors. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) collected data and promised assistance, but nothing has been delivered yet. We are concerned that the children might suffer from malnutrition,” said Naw Khu Phaw.
Presently, there are around 4,000 displaced individuals, and due to Thailand authorities not permitting them to cook their own meals. They are reliant on aid from donors and communal kitchens for their meals.
A mother shared that soy milk was initially distributed to children under 12 years old, but it has now been limited to those under the age of five.
“Children under five are given milk and some snacks, but it has only been for a couple of days. Children under 12 haven’t received anything. When we first arrived, they were given (milk and snacks) once a day, but they haven’t received anything this month,” said one of the displaced individuals.
The IDPs have disclosed that they are currently receiving only two meals per day, and some children are not getting enough to eat.