Myanmar aid workers warn of growing crisis for civilians in Kokang

Warning follows a second attack on a Myanmar Red Cross convoy.

Residents who fled from conflict areas near the Myanmar and Chinese border board a truck to transport them to a refugee camp in Mandalay, at a temporary refugee camp at a monastery in Lashio, northern Myanmar on Saturday

Mandalay:  Aid workers in Myanmar’s northeastern Shan state on Monday warned that convoys seeking to provide relief goods to civilians trapped by fighting between government troops and Kokang rebels needed greater protection.

The warning follows an attack — the second in less than a week — on a Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) aid convoy on Saturday that left five people injured, including volunteers and journalists.

“Our aid workers do not dare to go to the front lines because fear is growing among us and our Red Cross-flagged vehicles have been attacked for a second time. That’s why we can carry out evacuations only when there is no fighting in the region,” said Ko Tar, who leads a team of 50 volunteers providing healthcare, food and transportation for civilians caught in the conflict zone.

“I pray that there is a ceasefire as soon as possible so that we will be able to save civilians’ lives,” he said.

Ko Tar added that about 80 people were in need of evacuation from Laukkai township, where much of the recent fighting has taken place, while tens of thousands more have fled toward Lashio and across the border into China’s Yunnan province.

The Myanmar government announced a state of emergency following the first attack on an aid convoy last week.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the MRCS called on all sides of the conflict to ensure the safety of all relief workers, journalists and civilians in the Kokang region.

“Access and safety of Red Cross volunteers need to be guaranteed and protected to continue saving lives,” said Dr Tha Hla Shwe, president of the group, which is separate from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

An MRCS aid worker based in Lashio said staff were still awaiting guidance from higher officials in the organization and did not know when aid efforts would resume.

“We are still observing the situation and we are yet to carry out any missions except supporting aid for our Red Cross workers in Kunlong,” the worker told ucanews.com on Monday on condition of anonymity because the worker was not authorized to speak to the media.

Meanwhile, officials from the MRCS and the ICRC have been seeking permission from local authorities since last Friday to send aid to Kunlong township but have yet to receive that permission, the aid worker added.

The latest round of hostilities broke out on February 9 after a surprise attack by Kokang rebels on government soldiers.

It is the first major unrest in the region since 2009 and has renewed doubts over Myanmar’s attempt to forge a nationwide ceasefire in the former junta-ruled nation that is still wracked by ethnic insurgencies.

Source: ucanews.com