![]() We reported a few weeks back on our research in Kachin State, Burma. The article highlighted the problems involved in getting aid to displaced communities along the China-Burma border, as conflict escalated between the Kachin people and the central government military. John Littleton, our Asia Regional Manager has recently returned from this area where he spoke with representatives from the camps. He concluded that despite the fact the political situation in Kachin State is highly complex, that the humanitarian issue is simple. Sufficient aid is not getting through to those civillians who are caught up in the conflict and who need it most. Since then we have received a list of essential supplies needed by the camps, acquired funding and found an aid route through. We will be providing warm clothes, strategic nutrition and toys for the displaced children in the camps. Although play equipment may seem like a luxury item in these circumstances, it is essential for the emotional wellbeing of children caught up in conflict. Children in Kachin State have their identity entwined very closely with the war around them. They are constantly playing guns and bombs, not because of the influence of a television set, but from what they are actually seeing around them on a daily basis. Simple play equipment is essential for creating childhood games and imaginary realities that promote a healthy psychological wellbeing for a child living through conflict. A second visit is planned later in the Spring to assess longer term needs. Find out more about our work with refugees and internally displaced people from Burma, and consider donating to our work. ![]() Kachin State is the northernmost state of Burma and is bordered by China to the north and east. Historical tensions between the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) and the Burmese Government have recently intensified, placing civilians at huge risk. A 17-year ceasefire was broken by Burmese troops in June 2011 and since then conflicts have taken thousands of lives and forced over 100,000 Kachin people from their homes. Much of the fighting has happened in areas rich in natural resources, and stretches of land where large infrastructure projects are taking place. President Thein Sein’s administration insists that it wants a ceasefire and political discussion, yet over Christmas the government troops started to use heavy artillery, jets and helicopter gunships. Heavy shelling attacks near civilians are now a daily occurrence. Displaced people in the crowded camps are not only terrified, but cut off from aid. Since the atrocities stepped up in June, Children on the Edge have been researching the situation in Kachin State and talking with local groups to find a way of getting aid to displaced children on the borders near China. With attacks escalating over Christmas, John Littleton, our Asia Regional Manager has brought forward his trip to Kachin State in order to talk with local communities before the situation worsens further. This last week based from the town of Laiza, he has witnessed intensifying conflict including Government jet fighters and helicopters firing on civilian populations. Laiza has become a ghost town with people fleeing for their lives and mortars landing 2km outside of town. The UN conservatively estimates that more than 10,000 internally displaced people are not receiving sufficient, regular humanitarian assistance. Aid is being restricted to all KIO controlled areas by the Burmese government, so this fact finding mission aims to find a way for Children on the Edge to work under the radar to get aid to displaced communities through our connection with grassroots local partners. For a recent report on the increased attacks see BBC footage from the conflict zone in Kachin State. For further information about our current work with refugee children from Burma, visit our project pages. ![]() A charity football tournament organised as part of Atkins graduate corporate responsibility initiative raised over £670 for our projects supporting refugee children from Burma in Bangladesh, Thailand and on the borders of Burma itself. The Charity Super Cup football tournament took place at the Jebel Ali Shooting Club, Centre of Excellence in Dubai. With a great atmosphere and more than 80 players playing 21 matches, a good time was had by all and all the players took a real interest in the cause. Seven of the participating teams were from Atkins, with others coming from Buro Happold, IBM and Petrofac. The Super Cup and gold medal winner was the ‘Chamakh My Pitch Up’ team, with the silver medal being picked up by ‘Atkins Regulars’ and the bronze medal going to ‘Waylanders’ from IBM. “We tried to get as many teams as we could to participate in order to raise as much money as possible for the cause,” says organiser Elie Choufani. “With the risk of an entire generation of children in refugee camps growing up unable to read or write, providing education becomes as essential as providing nutrition. As an engineer, I felt that our efforts to provide sustainable design through our work could also extend to providing social sustainability through charity work, by helping the less fortunate to learn and develop.” On receiving the funds, John Littleton, our Asia Regional Manager said: “This money raised can cover the cost of a full class of 25 pupils for a year's education in the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh. Every dirham counts.” We’d like to say a huge thank you to Atkins and especially Elie for organising this brilliant event. We’d also like to thank all the volunteers and players involved. Find out more about our work with refugee children from Burma and if you think your workplace would be interested in raising money for our projects, please do get in touch. ![]() Children on the Edge welcome Aung San Suu Kyi’s arrival in the UK and her much awaited address to parliament on the 21st June, her 67th birthday. Ms Suu Kyi is the first person who is not a Head of State to address parliament. Over the years she has become an international symbol of peaceful resistance having spent the last two decades under house arrest because of her commitment to bringing democracy to Burma. Last week she was able to officially receive the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, which she was awarded in 1991 but unable to collect in person due to her detention. There has been much in the media of late regarding some positive moves towards democracy in Burma, and the fact that Aung San Suu Kyi is able to visit Europe in itself is a reflection of these changes. However Ms Suu Kyi has clearly stated that "Some are a little bit too optimistic about the situation. We are cautiously optimistic. We are at the beginning of a road”. Reports coming in over the last few months evidence all too harshly the long road ahead for Burma. The Karen Women’s Organisation partner with us in providing nurseries for 300 displaced children on the borders of Burma. In their World Refugee Day statement today they described how “Although there is a lot of media attention on the current Peace Process in Burma there is little change on the ground for the ethnic peoples. In fact, we have seen more human rights violations, land confiscations, increased Burmese military presence, forced labor, killing and continued fighting in some areas. It is not safe for refugees to return to Burma.” Kachin State has also experienced a disturbing increase in human rights abuses in recent months, despite the ‘good press’ in the world media. Free Burma Rangers report that there is no ceasefire in these areas with a remaining 110 Burma army battalions shooting civiliians, using chemical munitions, burning down homes and shelling villages. Reports have poured in as the military continue to torture civilians, force labour and use rape as a weapon of war. Ben Rogers of Christian Solidarity Worldwide says “There is an urgent need for substantial reform or repeal of repressive legislation, significant constitutional reform and the development of the rule of law”. He says that Ms Suu Kyi’s visit is “historic and very welcome, but it marks a potential turning-point, rather than a conclusion, to her country’s many decades of struggle for freedom and peace”. Hardships and abuses for ethnic peoples are also on the increase in Arakan (Rakhine) State where the Rohingya people continue to be persecuted. At present the World Food Programme estimates there are about 90,000 displaced people in need of assistance as a result of the recent religious and ethnic clashes. As they flood over the borders to Bangladesh the refugees are continually pushed back, as a report from Human Rights Watch highlighted today. Children on the Edge have been working with the Rohingya on the borders of Bangladesh for the last year, providing education to over 900 children in the makeshift camps. As persecution increases this work is more vital than ever. As Aung Sung Suu Kyi makes a historic address to both Houses of Parliament this week, and in the light recent cuts to refugees on the borders of Burma and to internally displaced people, we urge you to consider her appeal from the Nobel Peace Prize speech. She says “Can we afford to indulge in compassion fatigue? Is the cost of meeting the needs of refugees greater than the cost that would be consequent on turning an indifferent, if not a blind, eye on their suffering? I appeal to donors the world over to fulfill the needs of these people who are in search, often it must seem to them a vain search, of refuge." Please read more about our work on the Bangladeshi and Thai borders of Burma and donate to our work. ![]() Back in October we posted up a photo of a pile of wood waiting be transformed into a primary school for a small Chin community in Burma. At this time the children had no chance of getting an education. We are happy to report that the school is now built and open for classes! The school was due to be opening in November but a delay in harvest meant that all the villagers were tied up working in the fields throughout most of that month. Now the school is built they have held a community celebration and got started on their learning. Cheery Zahau, our representative in Burma says “All the villagers and those in the nearby villages are so grateful as they can send their children to the school too. Next they would love to raise money for high school teachers”. This Chin community in this tiny village in Burma have been the target of persecution and oppression for many years from the Burmese military regime. The village is situated just 3 miles from an area where one of the main Burma Army Battalions are posted. These soldiers force tax, labour and food from the villagers and consequently many people have left the village. Despite years of campaigning for a road to be built, there is no transportation out of the village so before this school was built the children remaining in the village had no way of getting to schools further afield. The new primary school has four teachers and provides education for 84 children. Please find out more about our work with the Chin people of Burma or donate to our projects. ![]() The news of the release of political prisoners in Burma on 13th January came a day after the announcement of a ceasefire with the Karen ethnic group. The international media have been praising Thein Sein for these steps and many of our supporters have been asking us whether these changes will have an impact on our work with displaced children both within and on the borders of Burma. While Children on the Edge welcome these steps towards democracy, the reports on the ground until recently have been showing that ethnic cleansing has actually increased. Our director Rachel Bentley says “Burma is not a democracy yet, it’s more of a possibility than it’s ever been, but these are just small steps towards change. Our hope is that the recent ceasefire agreements with various ethnic groups will hold, but only time will tell”. Representative of the Karen National Union, Bwa Bwa Phan has described how the number of people forced to flee their homes has doubled in the past year from around 70,000 to almost 150,00. The use of rape, even against children by the Burmese army has increased. She also tells stories of unarmed villagers being exectuted, schools mortar bombed and aid being blocked to the internally displaced. At a presentation in London, Jack Dunford of the Thai Burma Border Consortium described how the media coverage of the recent moves by the government is actually having an adverse affect on the refugee community from Burma. Seeing the news headlines, donors are making the assumption that the troubles are over, and that displaced peoples can return to a peaceful and democratic homeland. Consequently financial contributions are falling. So it is this situation that the children we work with are living in, not a situation that is on the cusp of being resolved. Even if and when there is genuine political change and significant moves towards peace, we will be investing our efforts into the returning refugee community who form such a fundamental part of the fabric of Burma. We will support them to rebuild their lives, homes and communities. Please find out more about our projects for children in Burma as well as those that have fled to Thailand, India, Bangladesh and Malaysia. Your ongoing support is invaluable. ![]() By November this pile of wood will be transformed into a primary school for 84 Chin children in Burma who at present have no chance of getting an education. The Chin people in the tiny village of Tilum in Burma have been the target of persecution and oppression for many years. The Chin Human Rights Organisation describe how the Chin people in Burma have had to endure “decades long violation of the rights of women and children, forced labour, political suppression, racial discrimination religious persecutions committed by the Burmese military regime”. Tilum is situated just 3 miles from the neighboring village of Tibual where one of the main Burma Army Battalions are posted. These soldiers force tax, labour and food from the Tilum villagers and consequently many people have left the village. The remaining 19 households (which consist of 3-4 families sharing the same house) are those who lack the money or capacity to leave the village or those who are too afraid to settle in other communities. Many families cannot leave as they rely on jhuming cultivation, growing rice or sweetcorn in order to survive. There is no transportation out of the village so the children remaining in Tilum have no chance of an education. This is why it’s so vital for us to support the community and build a primary school. Children on the Edge are paying for the building of the school which will have four teachers and give an education to 84 children. Materials have arrived and building works have started, so come November we should be reporting on the opening of a brand new school. Find out more about our work with the Chin people of Burma or donate to our projects. ![]() Nant Bwa Bwa Phan is the representative of Karen National Union in the United Kingdom. We were delighted to have her as a guest speaker at our fundraising dinner in Chichester last year, hosted by the then Mayor Michael Woolley. Bwa Bwa has recently written a brilliant article on the current plight of the Karen people in Burma which has been published on the Democratic Voice of Burma website. We work with children from Karen State both within Burma at our Nursery Schools and in Thailand in our Children’s Crisis Centre, Boarding Houses and Migrant Schools where many Karen families flee across the border to find safety. In her article Bwa Bwa highlights how the international community continue to make policy about Burma whilst ignoring what is happening in Karen State. In 2006 the Burmese Army launched a major offensive in Karen state resulting in the most appalling crimes against humanity with 80,000 Karen people fleeing their homes to hide in the jungle. Bwa Bwa notes that the UN made no response to this, even when their envoy visited Burma. Four years later, despite a petition for action from 84,000 Karen people to UN Secretary General Ba Ki-moon and to other Presidents and Prime Ministers across the world, there has still been no reply. While the international community continue to focus their attention on events in Rangoon and Naypyidaw, the shocking abuses and atrocities in Karen State continue to be ignored. Bwa Bwa says “The generals know this, which is why they carry on killing. They know all they need to do is make nice speeches in Naypyidaw, and agree to let diplomats visit now and again, they can literally get away with murder.” Please read the full article by Nant Bwa Bwa Phan, find out more about our projects with the Karen people both within Burma and Thailand and consider donating to our work. |
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