Mizzima.com-March 31
The Karen National Union (KNU) has responded to the delivery of humanitarian aid by the Thai government to help people in distress in Karen State. The following is the statement issued this week on 27 March by the KNU: On the 25th of March 2024, at the 2nd Thailand-Myanmar Friendship Bridge, Mae Sot, Thailand, the Thai Red Cross Society handed over aid packages to the Myanmar Red Cross Society, through the Royal Thai Government’s Humanitarian Aid Program. The aid packages were distributed to 20,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who fled into Karen National Union (KNU) control areas due to SAC’s air strikes, artillery attacks, looting and burning of civilian houses. The Karen Border Guard Force (BGF) transported the aid materials through Myawaddy via Thay Ka Tae. Officials from the Royal Thai Army accompanied them to observe the aid deliveries. Officials from the KNU’s Hpa-an District received 3,874 aid packages from Royal Thai Army officials in Nabu Township and handed them over to CIDKP (Committee for Internally Displaced Karen People) and respective community leaders that assist and care for the IDPs. In Paingkyon Township and Tha Ma Nya (Don Yin Township), officials from SAC and the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) unexpectedly participated in the delivery of humanitarian aid. Our leaders were able to distribute them completely and with restraint despite the challenges. Although there was a lack of information and challenges, we, the KNU would like to express our gratitude on behalf of the Karen IDP to the Royal Thai Government for the humanitarian assistance. As almost of the whole country is in urgent need of humanitarian aid during this period, we request that humanitarian aid is provided only after information sharing and consultation on all sides and among all relevant stakeholders with transparency, responsibility, and accountability is done. Read more at: https://eng.mizzima.com/2024/03/31/8549#google_vignette
