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MAW REH

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The leaf was his only roof amid hiding from the Burmese military in the jungle.

I met this kid when I went to Karenni IDP camp this summer and what struck me about him was the plastic container he held, which him and his friends uses to play a game.

Almost two years after the Burmese military coup, persecution of Karenni people continues, with many people fleeing the chaos of the army’s incursions into Karenni State.
During my time in refugee and IDP camps, I witnessed people’s daily struggle; I heard their stories of resistance and survival.
Among the refugees are many children who fled without their parents. I met this young girl in Daw Noe Khu where she was being quarantined. Behind her bright smile is an uncertain future: food and water scarcity, lack of protection and education, continuing military assaults and, ultimately, no certainty of being reunited with her family or living in a safe place that can be called home.

In the midst of this chaotic civil war (against the Burmese-dictatorship), children around her age take on responsibilities beyond their capacity. This little girl in particular lives with her mom and her little sister in a tiny makeshift bamboo "house". Her everyday-life in the camp mainly came to be her helping out her mom with running errands: fetching water from far away, scouting vegetables in the jungle, babysitting her little sister, doing laundry, etc.
The dire situation of the camp –lack of: clean water, medical needs, food supplies, education, the constant fear of attack– is not making life any easier for these children.

These exiles are in constant fear of Burma military's attack. Gun shots and bombs going off can be heard from this camp causing panick among the settlers, __traumatized grandma reaction to the sound and children cries that can be heard through out the camp.

During my visit, I learned that Mee Reh and his family had recently escaped the Burmese junta, and had been quarantined at the quarantine section of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp. It was a requirement for anyone to quarantine for 14 days before resettling into the camp.

In this painting, Mee Reh was attempting to make a ball out of bamboo. He told me he's a soccer enthusiast and loves playing soccer. The priceless smile that was seen on his face as he was making that "soccer" ball was a reminder that, in the depth of disparities and sadness, happiness can and will always find its way. However, happiness only lasts so long until our future, heritage, freedom, and country are on the line of war.

While most cities and towns in Karenni state have infrastructure for hauling, fleeing to and surviving in IDP camps necessitates relying on bodily strength, with makeshift bamboo containers.

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