In their own words: Taking ‘care of my people’ in Myanmar

Published: Aug 11, 2020 Reading time: 3 minutes
In their own words: Taking ‘care of my people’ in Myanmar
© Foto: People in Need

N Hkum San Aung is People in Need’s (PIN) Education Field Officer in Myanmar’s conflict-affected Kachin State. The 30-year-old joined PIN four years ago, and worked on child protection, land rights, and land research before focusing on education during emergencies.

Why did you become a humanitarian worker?

In 2011, after the ceasefire collapsed between the Myanmar military and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in Kachin State, the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) increased significantly, both within the Government-controlled Area (GCA) and Non-Government Controlled Area (NGCA). The IDPs and their host communities needed urgent humanitarian support and, as a Kachin native, I wanted to help and take care of my people when they were in need. That is why I wanted to become a humanitarian worker in Kachin State and work with PIN.

Why did you join PIN?

I learned that PIN has a history of providing emergency response; health and nutrition protection; water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) assistance; and shelter and protection for people who have been displaced by armed conflicts and crises around the world. I have been working with PIN for almost four years and have gained loads of experience. I am very happy to work with PIN on supporting beneficiaries in Myanmar. I have been working intensively in communities and IDP camps, especially in remote areas.

How has your work changed because of COVID-19?

Our work has changed significantly during the pandemic because I often work from home. Most of our activities have been postponed due to travel restrictions, and this has affected our field visits to the IDP camps we support. In Kachin State, there have been many travel restrictions set by the local government, and we have to follow the health precautions when we go outside. We also faced a two-month lockdown in our area.

When we cannot go to the field, we have been...working remotely with partners, and organising online meetings or workshops.

How you are protecting yourself and the people you support?

We always listen to and follow the government’s announcements and instructions. We stay at home, maintain social distance, wear a mask, and wash our hands properly.

Have you applied any of the lessons learned from your work to your daily life?

I am more careful now about my personal hygiene. For instance, I wash my hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds, as instructed by the Ministry of Health and Sports.

Have the people you are supporting changed their view of humanitarian workers?

Yes, they appreciate that I share reliable information about the coronavirus and how it can be spread.

Are you afraid of the disease or of the economic consequences connected with it?

I am afraid of being affected by the economic consequences of COVID-19. I know that COVID-19 has already affected the entire world, and developing countries like Myanmar will be more affected by the crisis. During the pandemic, my family income has been affected by the lockdown, because here we had our first confirmed cases in March 2020.

How is your family dealing with the new situation?

In my family, we always follow the Ministry of Health and Sports guidelines and announcements for our daily activities.

Has the COVID-19 emergency response changed you in any way? If so, how?

I now always check social media platforms and national media coverage for updated information about COVID-19. I am more alert in order to keep myself and my family safe in the future. 


Autor: Aye Pyae Sone, PIN Myanmar Communication Officer

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