It's been over 10 days that internally displaced people are sheltering at the Narmakhaw monastery in Narmakhaw village, northern Shan State. they are unable to go back their village as there is no security there.

According to the data collected on January 16, there are 655 IDPs in Narmakhaw monastery in Thibaw Township. They are from Tunkyaing, Nainglone, Tarwon, Wanhon, Honarchitphon villages. Among them, there are 126 school age children. To harvest their crops, over 50 villagers from Tunkyaing have went back to their village but January 14 clashes increased the numbers of IDPs. 

As it is a harvesting season, villagers are unable to harvest due to the clashes. As schools are closed, children at the Narmakhaw monastery are being taught since January 7.

Among the school age children at the monastery, there are 26 KG students, 29 Grade-1 students, 32 Grade-2 students, 25 Grade-3 students, 14 Grade-4 students. Altogether 18 teachers are teaching them at the monastery.

"There are 655 IDPs in Narmakhaw monastery. Those gone to harvest came back in the evening and stayed spent their night at the monastery. There is no safety, yet. As long as the armed men are in the village, we couldn't go back to our villages," said Samson, in charge of Narmakhaw camp.

Currently, IDPs are in need of warm clothes and food and blankets as it is a cold season.

The donors for the Narmakhaw camp are UNICEF, Namtlam without border volunteer group, Red Cross and Ministry of Social and Welfare, Department of Township administrator, Township educator group, 2 MPs, and 88 Generation.