Karen State

International health organisations estimate southeastern Burma’s health infrastructure as one of the regions worst with as many as 400,000 people displaced there. Karen villagers deprived of health care for decades are hoping that following a series of meetings between officials from the Karen Department of Health and Welfare and the government’s Health Directorate for Karen State, plans to deliver the…

Saw Albert, the field director of the Karen Human Rights Group, in an exclusive interview with Karen News, said that since Burma’s 2010 election, changes in the government’s administration has allowed a lot of business and development projects to come into the country that are stealing land from ethnic villagers’. “Many people think that Burma has opened up and the…

Villagers living along the Salween River claim that the Thai energy authority are moving ahead with plans to build a dam at the Hat Gyi site. Villagers in the area said that the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) have put up water level measurement posts on the Salween River bank at the proposed dam site. Local sources alleged that…

Despite a ceasefire in place, a Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG) report criticizes a government-controlled militia, the Border Guard Force (BGF), for committing human right violations against villagers in Papun Township, Karen State. The KHRG’s report released on 23rd of April, documented that BGF battalions based in Papun Township – the 1013th and the 1014th – forced villagers from Meh…

The once forested slopes of the hills around Kyeik Pe Lor village are now surrounded by rubber trees or burnt black in preparation for the planting of more rubber trees. Forests have been burnt to the ground. The burnt land once was part of the villager’s rotation rice farming, but now has been taken over by a company for a…

Dengue fever, a mosquito-borne infection that peaks during Burma’s wet season has struck Karen children early this year. A government health official told Karen News that the number of children in Pa-an, the capital of Karen State, presenting with dengue are high. Dr Win Naing, the Burma government’s health director for Karen State, explained to Karen News that while malaria…

Villagers in Hpa-an Township, Karen State say for the first time in memory Government officials have involved them in discussions about a development project planned for their area. Villagers’ say an assessment was carried out and they were consulted with over a development project before it started. Karen State Ministers and Members of Parliament visited Mi Kayin village on April…

Disputes over land issues have increased in the Hpa-an Town region in Karen State since the establishment of economic zones and a rush to start ‘development projects’ in the area. Myaing Thar Yar villagers have reported to government officials that the children of Khun Bayin, an early settler of the village, are claiming their lands. Villagers said Khun Bayin’s children…

The Burma government and Karen health officials have agreed to join forces to combat malaria in rural communities. Officers from the Karen National Union (KNU) health department and the Dr Win Naing, the Burma government health director for Karen State, agreed to cooperate to fight malaria at a recent meeting in Karen State. The head of the Karen Department of…

The Back Pack Health Worker Team (BPHWT) and Phalon Education Development Unit (PEDU) began a seven-month auxiliary obstetrician-training course on March 31, in Pa-an Township, Karen State. The training opening ceremony was held in Taunggalay village and nearly 40-people attended the opening ceremony, including the BPHWT’s director, Saw Kyaw Win, Karen State Health directorate Dr. Win Naing, village administrators, health…