SOUTHERN SHAN STATE – It was reported that there are more than 300 children under 10 among the refugees from Karenni State who fled to Pinlaung Township in southern Shan State, and around 80 of them are suffering from seasonal flu, according to a person assisting the refugees.
“Most of them are under 10 years old. When children get sick, they immediately come to get medicine. Some of them often get sick because of the cold since they don’t have enough clothes,” said a person helping Karenni refugees.
The current symptoms of seasonal flu in children are running nose, cough, sore throat, fever and fatigue. It is said that there is not enough medicine for the children, and some refugee camps do not receive medical aid.
“There are places where we can’t do anything since there are not enough medicine. And medicine cannot be transported and aren’t allowed to be transported (by the junta regime),” he added.
There are around 20,000 Karenni refugees who have taken refuge in Pinlaung Township, and most of them are from Loikaw, Mobye and Pekhon.