Urgent Aid Needed for Rohingya Starving in Their Own Homes

A new crisis is emerging in Arakan State, Burma, where up to 700,000 Rohingya are trapped in their homes and villages, unable to go out and buy food or farm because of ongoing attacks and threats against them. BROUK is already receiving reports of babies dying from malnutrition […]

International Donors Spurn 60,000 Displaced in Kachin Control Area on China Border

From persecution to deprivation, a brief report launched today by KWAT, documents that nearly 60,000 people sheltering in Kachin-controlled areas have received only 4% of their basic food needs from international aid groups, including the UN. About 100,000 have been displaced in total since the Burmese government broke its 17-year ceasefire with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in June 2011 […]

From Persecution to Deprivation: International Donors Neglect 60,000 Displaced Kachin on China-Burma Border

About 60,000 Kachin villagers fleeing Burma Army attacks and persecution, who are sheltering in Kachin-controlled territory along the China-Burma border, have received almost no international aid since conflict broke out in June 2011.

Data compiled from local relief groups shows that international aid agencies, including the UN, have provided only 4% of basic food needs of this displaced population, who have been kept alive almost entirely by private donations from local and overseas compatriots […]

CSW Calls on Burma Army to Stop Attacks on Kachin and Begin a Peace Process After One Year of War

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) today urges Burma’s President Thein Sein and the country’s army to stop military offensives in Kachin State, and initiate a political dialogue and peace process with the ethnic armed group, the Kachin Independence Organisation […]

Burma Has Two Faces, One for the International Community and One for the Ethnic People

“Suu Kyi represents hope for so many people. There’s going to be huge crowd of people who will come to see her. It’s going to be an exciting day for us,” said Saw Tun Tun, chairman of Mae La Refugee Camp Committee, ahead of Daw Aung Sang Suu Kyi’s visit. And it was an exciting day. On Saturday thousands of people gathered in Mae La camp on the Thai-Burma border to welcome “The Lady.” In Mae Sot, the city of activists and exiles from Burma, her pictures are usually everywhere in restaurants, teashops, houses. Saturday, her pictures were on the streets as people gathered along the roads to welcome her and get a chance to get a glimpse at “Mother Suu.”

Daw Suu’s visit is hugely symbolic and was a rare occasion to put Burma migrant workers and refugees in the spotlight. Her visit conveyed lots of hope as Win Aung, a migrant worker who lost his hand in an accident at a Thai-run shoe factory said, “She can’t force the Thai government to do anything, but she can speak on our behalf better than anybody else.”

Daw Suu’s first trip abroad in 24 years was also an occasion for her to address the international community at the World Economic Forum in Bangkok and to remind the leaders of the world that Burma’s so-called transition is still very fragile. “These days I am coming across what I call reckless optimism. A little bit of healthy skepticism I think is in order,” said Daw Suu at the forum […]

Burma Army Intensifies Attacks in Kachin State Despite Reforms

Even as Burma is opening up, the Burma Army is intensifying its attacks in Kachin State, where thousands have been displaced amid a humanitarian crisis. Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has received reports detailing 126 clashes […]

Separated by Borders: United By Need, An Assessment of Reproductive Health on the Thai-Burma Border

The region of eastern Burma is mired in conflict and human rights abuses. The former Myanmar military junta and the new civilian government, are responsible for widespread human rights violations throughout […]

Violations and Humanitarian Crisis Continues in Eastern Burma According to New Report

Serious violations of human rights continue to be committed by the Burma Army in eastern Burma, while humanitarian conditions deteriorate due to a lack of international funding, according to a new report released today by Christian Solidarity Worldwide […]

Kachin Churches Attacked, Women Raped and Civilians Killed by Military While Regime Talks of Reform

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is deeply concerned by reports that the Burma Army are directly attacking churches in Kachin State, beating pastors and church members, setting homes alight and raping, torturing and killing civilians.

According to CSW’s sources, on 16 October soldiers from Light Infantry Battalion 438 seized control of a Roman Catholic Church in Namsan Yang village, Waimaw township, where 23 worshippers, mostly women and elderly people, had gathered for the 8am Sunday service […]

Over 30,000 Displaced by Burma Army Attacks Face Humanitarian Crisis in Northern Shan State

Numbers of villagers fleeing Burma Army atrocities have soared to over 30,000 during recent intensified attacks against the Shan State Army North (SSA-N), causing a dire humanitarian crisis in northern Shan State […]