Myanmar: increasing displacement as fighting resumes in the East: a profile of the internal displacement situation

This report documents the human rights violations against the people of Myanmar. It provides information on the political background, causes of displacement, and information by state. It also discusses patterns of displacement, phsical security and freedom of movement, subsistence needs, access to education, and national and international responses.

Some major findings of the paper are as follows: 

• targeting civilians as a means of undermining the armed opposition is the most severe impact of militarisation into ethnic areas
• development projects (such as projects of pipelines, oil exploration and dams) and landmines have contributed to displacement
  
• paterns of displacement in Myanmar varies; while some internally displaced people (IDPs) migrate and resettle elsewhere after being displaced, others attempt to hide in the jungle for up to several years
• internally displaced in hiding sites suffer from serious health problems and hunger 
• malaria is a leading cause of IDP deaths in eastern Burma
• there is limited access to education among IDPs 
• there are considerable concerns over safety of refugees forcibly repatriated from Thailand
• following ceasefires or announcements of ceasefires, IDPs have returned spontaneously from hiding in jungles.