Parents’ relief as clean water arrives

Saw Thein Soe and his wife Naw Eh Mu Phaw will no longer have to worry about getting clean water for their new baby.

The couple, who celebrated the birth of their daughter at the Aye Lin Myat Shin camp for internally displaced people (IDP) in Kayin State, south-eastern Myanmar, tell of their relief at being able to access safe drinking water, thanks to a project supported by UNICEF and the Government of Japan. The project is helping 25,000 internally displaced people in long-term IDP camps, conflict-affected populations and host families in Kayin State.

“When we first arrived at the camp, there were not enough facilities for water and sanitation,” said Saw Thein Soe.

“The quality and quantity of water became a problem, particularly in the dry season. We did not boil water; we just filtered it with a thin cloth and drank it. When we suffered from diarrhoea, we had to spend money on medical expenses, and it was expensive.”

But the project, implemented by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Myanmar and the Committee for Internally Displaced Karen People, has brought positive changes. Saw Thein Soe said, “We no longer have an issue with safe drinking water.”

The couple have lived in the camp in Hlaing Bwe Township, Kayin State since 2016, after armed clashes broke out between ethnic armed groups near their home.

Back in their village, Saw Thein Soe used to make a living by selling betel leaves, and sometimes worked as casual labourer. Now, in the camp, he drives a taxi motorbike and sells groceries.

“I am very happy I received a water filter for my family. It is summer now, and water in the wells becomes turbid, due to the high demand. I no longer worry about safe drinking water. It is very convenient to drink water from the filter. I feel like it is safe to drink, and it can prevent diarrhoeal diseases,” said Saw Thein Soe. “We also received water purification sachets; we have kept them all for the rainy season and will use them as necessary.”

More than 82,100 people have been displaced in Kayin State since February 2021. In response, UNICEF and other humanitarian agencies continue to deliver lifesaving services to more than 40,000 people displaced by ongoing conflict in the area.