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A woman from Shait Yang dries leaves which she will keep for selling when the lockdown is lifted

Myanmar

The Indomitable Spirit of Women in Kachin, Myanmar’

Trócaire 29 Jun 2022 6 Min Read

The  women of Kachin in northern Myanmar have been hugely impacted by the political instability, armed conflict, violence and the Covid-19 pandemic.

On February 1st 2021, the military seized control following the general election and ousted the country’s elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi.  The military takeover led to new cycle of violence and clashes across different parts of the country.

The situation was compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic which limited the population’s access to basic services,  which was especially dire in the camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Women in IDP camps in Kachin State were particularly affected by violence and Covid-19, as they are disproportionately impacted by the crises. But despite the enormous challenges, they are finding new ways to provide for their families.

Since the start of the Covid-19 crisis, Trócaire and our partners have helped empower women in Kachin through training on emergency preparedness and Covid-19 prevention. The women were also provided with dignity kits and psychological support, and had safe spaces created for them and their children.

These photos capture the courage and resilience of the women of Kachin as they provided for their families and communities during these difficult times.

Women in IDP camps selling their produce. at the market With the camp under lockdown, families had to stay home without a daily income. Women provided food for their families by selling vegetables in the market.
A woman crosses a small bridge to feed pigs on the other side of the stream. During Covid-19, women in some of the areas started to raise pigs to help cover the cost of basic needs when humanitarian supports were halted. With schools closed, women cared for and taught their children at home.
Unable to find work, a woman is seeking edible plants and leaves along the road.
As the sun rises in the sky, a woman cooks breakfast for her family. The woman is seen here boiling bamboo shoots as a shortage of food supplies means the family can’t afford basic food.
An elderly woman collects her family’s rations at the camp’s warehouse, which are available every two months.
Pregnant women attend a prenatal check-up at the clinic in an IDP camp in Kachin State Access to healthcare and food are two of the many challenges facing people living at IDP camps. Safe spaces were created by women for women, where female dignity kits were distributed and where they received training and support on participating in the community. A woman from the Je Yang IDP camp said: “Women in the camps can use the clinics there, however, many women are not getting the midwife or family support they need. Therefore, we help each other at the camp.”
At an IDP camp in remote location, safe and convenient shower spaces was a challenge for women and girls. They often had to travel far from the camp to collect water. They created makeshift showers with rocks, and created water storage facilities for when water is scarce.
A woman digs a bunker in case of an attack as warplanes were seen flying over the IDP camp. Trócaire’s training on emergency preparedness strengthened the woman’s ability to protect her community.
A woman sits in front of a temporary bomb shelter. She fled her village in 2011 with her family. It has been 10 years and four months since she was forced to flee her village.
A woman uses available food supplies to make a treat for her family while they are stuck at home to uplift families’ mood. The woman said: “We do not blame anyone nor ourselves, because this situation is out of our control and just try to manage our physical and mental as much as we can.”

This photo story was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of RANIR and Trócaire and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union. Photo credit: Yawng Htang, Sinwa Naw, Ring Nu Awng and Naw Ja, Relief Action Network for IDPs and Refugees ()

 

 

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Myanmar
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