The Kachin Independence Army (KIA), headquartered in Laiza, functions as a de facto government over significant parts of Kachin State and northern Shan State through its political wing, the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO). Laiza serves as the KIA's administrative capital, hosting governance, education, and healthcare institutions, as well as the leadership's operations. The KIA also extends its role as a hub for ethnic armed resistance, offering training and strategic support to other ethnic minority armies opposing Myanmar’s military junta.
The KIA’s administration faces constant pressure from the junta, which seeks to reclaim territory through military offensives and blockades. Simultaneously, the KIA must navigate complex relations with China, which exerts influence over the region. While China unofficially interacts with the KIA, its broader support for the junta limits the organization's operational and humanitarian flexibility.
The situation is dire in Internally Displaced Person (IDP) camps near the Myanmar-China border, where tens of thousands of civilians face extreme hardships. These camps, often close to Laiza, struggle with inadequate shelter, limited medical aid, and food shortages. The KIO and local NGOs work to provide relief, but their efforts are constrained by junta restrictions and limited international access. Meanwhile, the displaced endure profound vulnerability, caught in the crossfire of ongoing conflict.
Kachin youth practising martial arts part daily self defense and sports activities. Laiza, the stronghold of the Kachin Independence Organisation controlled territory along the Chinese border. Laiza, Myanmar, April 2019
Elderly woman in an IDP camp along the border with China in Kachin Independence Army (KIA) held territory in Myanmar. More than 3320 displaced Kachin live in Pa Kahtawang camp. Mai Ja Yang, Myanmar, April 2019
Summer class for Kachin children displaced by the ongoing conflict between the Myanmar military forces and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). Pa Kahtawang IDP camp in KIA controlled territory, Mai Ja Yang, Kachin, Myanmar, April 2019
Twenty months old baby boy with his grandmother eating rations of supplemenatry feeding received as humanitarian aid provided by the Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC). The child's mother could not breastfeed him because of an infection and nutritional deficiency. The Kachin Independence Army territory is landlocked between China and the frontline making it extremely difficult for humanitarian aid and food to reach this remote conflict zone with China and the Myanmar military blocking most of the time humanitarian and other access. Hpun Lum Yang IDP camp in KIA controlled territory, Kachin, Myanmar, April 2019
Nhkawang Pa IDP camp in the mountains of northeastern Kachin State. Over 1700 displaced Kachin live in this camp since 2012 and restart of hostilities between Myanmar military and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). Mai Ja Yang in KIA controlled territory, Myanmar, April 2019
Kachin children playing in an IDP camp along the border with China in Kachin Independence Army (KIA) held territory in Myanmar. More than 8700 displaced Kachin live in Je Yang camp one hour south of Laiza, the stronghold of the KIA. Je Yang camp in Laiza Township, Myanmar, April 2019
Kachin children playing in an IDP camp along the border with China in Kachin Independence Army (KIA) held territory in Myanmar. More than 8700 displaced Kachin live in Je Yang camp one hour south of Laiza, the stronghold of the KIA. Je Yang camp in Laiza Township, Myanmar, April 2019
A mother and her children in a camp for internally displaced persons in Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) held territory. KIO controlled territory stretches along the Chinese border with the frontline 20-30 miles more inland. Since the outbreak of hostilities in 2011 between the KIO and Myanmar Army, more than 100,000 people have been displaced and settled in camps in government held territories and in KIO controlled territory. Woichyai IDP camp, Laiza, KIA contolled territory in Myanmar, April 2019
A mother and her child in an IDP camp along the border with China in Kachin Independence Army (KIA) held territory in Myanmar. More than 6000 displaced Kachin live in Woichyai camp near Laiza the stronghold of the KIA. Laiza, Myanmar, April 2019
Pa Kahtawang IDP camp in the mountains of northeastern Kachin State. Over 3320 displaced Kachin live in this camp since 2012 and the restart of hostilities between Myanmar military and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). Mai Ja Yang in KIA controlled territory, Myanmar, April 2019
Kachin children in front of their shelter in Dum Bung camp for internally displaced persons. This IDP camp has 380 residents and is located in a remote area at least 2 hour drive to the first town with medical facilities. Mai Ja Yang district in KIA controlled territory, Kachin, Myanmar, April 2019
Kachin expelled from their lands living in an IDP camp along the border with China in Kachin Independence Army (KIA) held territory in Myanmar. More than 3320 displaced Kachin live in Pa Kahtawang camp. Mai Ja Yang, Myanmar, April 2019
A Kachin elderly woman in her shelter in Dum Bung camp for internally displaced persons. This IDP camp has 380 residents and is located in a remote area at least 2 hour drive to the first town with medical facilities. Mai Ja Yang district in KIA controlled territory, Kachin, Myanmar, April 2019
Classroom in Pa Kahtawang IDP camp, Mai Ja Yang in KIA controlled territory in Kachin, Myanmar, April 2019
Kachin children playing football in an IDP camp along the border with China in Kachin Independence Army (KIA) held territory in Myanmar. More than 6000 displaced Kachin live in Woichyai camp near Laiza, the stronghold of the KIA. Laiza Township, Myanmar, April 2019
Kachin expelled from their lands living in an IDP camp along the border with China in Kachin Independence Army (KIA) held territory in Myanmar. More than 3320 displaced Kachin live in Pa Kahtawang camp. Mai Ja Yang, Myanmar, April 2019
Kachin women buying and chatting at a small convenience store. Nhkawng Pa IDP Camp near Mai Ja Yang in KIA controlled territory, Myanmar, April 2019
An elderly Kachin woman in Nhkawang Pa IDP camp in the mountains of northeastern Kachin State. Over 1700 displaced Kachin live in this camp since 2012 and restart of hostilities between Myanmar military and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). Mai Ja Yang in KIA controlled territory, Myanmar, April 2019
Je Yang Camp, south of Laiza in Kachin Independence Army controlled territory. The KIA territory is landlocked between China and the frontline making it extremely difficult for humanitarian aid and food to reach this remote conflict zone in Northeastern Myanmar. Kachin are a Christian minority in Myanmar. Je Yang, Laiza, Myanmar, April 2019
Kachin children in Dum Bung camp for internally displaced persons. This IDP camp has 380 residents and is located in a remote area at least 2 hour drive to the first town with medical facilities. Mai Ja Yang district in KIA controlled territory, Kachin, Myanmar, April 2019
Summer class for Kachin children displaced by the ongoing conflict between the Myanmar military forces and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). Pa Kahtawang IDP camp in KIA controlled territory, Mai Ja Yang, Kachin, Myanmar, April 2019
Kachin children after school in Je Yang IDP camp in Kachin Independence Army controlled territory. The KIA territory is landlocked between China and the frontline making it extremely difficult for humanitarian aid and food to reach this remote conflict zone in Northeastern Myanmar. Je Yang, Laiza, Myanmar, April 2019
A Kachin family living in Laiza, the de-facto capital of Kachin Independence Organisation controlled territory in Kachin. Laiza, Kachin State, Myanmar, April 2019
Kachin child playing in an IDP camp along the border with China in Kachin Independence Army (KIA) held territory in Myanmar. More than 8700 displaced Kachin live in Je Yang camp one hour south of Laiza, the stronghold of the KIA. Je Yang camp in Laiza Township, Myanmar, April 2019
Je Yang Camp, south of Laiza in Kachin Independence Army controlled territory. The KIA territory is landlocked between China and the frontline making it extremely difficult for humanitarian aid and food to reach this remote conflict zone in Northeastern Myanmar. Je Yang, Laiza, Myanmar, April 2019
Je Yang Camp, south of Laiza in Kachin Independence Army controlled territory. The KIA territory is landlocked between China and the frontline making it extremely difficult for humanitarian aid and food to reach this remote conflict zone in Northeastern Myanmar. 8700 people depend of aid in Je Yang, Laiza, Myanmar, April 2019
A Kachin man who worked for several years in the banana plantations. In December 2018 he got severely sick having respiratory problems and serious digestive issues with body swelling. Has stopped working and has vowed never to work again in the plantations. The herbicide and pesticide used are highly toxic chemicals and extremely dangerous to be manipulated by workers who do not have any protective gear and simply replaced when they fall ill. When chemicals would be sprayed, the Chinese management of the plantations would leave and return several days after the spraying. Je Yang IDP camp in KIA controlled territory, Kachin State, Myanmar, April 2019
Five year old child on the far left with his siblings and mother; has liver and long problems caused by malnutrion and nutritional defeciencies. A lot of IDP families cannot afford to buy regularly vegetables, fruit and meat causing often nutritional, vitamin and iron deficiencies causing further disease. Food prices are extremely high due to a humanitarian delivery lock down orchestred by the Burmese military and a closed Chinese border for humanitarian convoys. Woichyai IDP camp near Laiza in KIA held territory, Myanmar along the Chinese border, April 2019
Kachin youth practising martial arts part daily self defense and sports activities. Laiza, the stronghold of the Kachin Independence Organisation controlled territory along the Chinese border. Laiza, Myanmar, April 2019
Kachin children doing after school homework in an IDP camp along the border with China in Kachin Independence Army (KIA) held territory in Myanmar. More than 8700 displaced Kachin live in Je Yang camp one hour south of Laiza, the stronghold of the KIA. Je Yang camp in Laiza Township, Myanmar, April 2019
An elderly Kachin woman weaving in Hpun Lum Yang IDP camp along the Chinese border in Kachin Independence Army controlled territory has 3650 residents coming originally from areas that are now on and in between the frontline. KIA controlled territory in Kachin State, Myanmar, April 2019
Hpun Lum Yang IDP camp along the Chinese border in Kachin Independence Army controlled territory has 3650 residents coming originally from areas that are now on and in between the frontline. KIA controlled territory in Kachin State, Myanmar, April 2019
Kachin children playing in an IDP camp along the border with China in Kachin Independence Army (KIA) held territory in Myanmar. More than 8700 displaced Kachin live in Je Yang camp one hour south of Laiza, the stronghold of the KIA. Je Yang camp in Laiza Township, Myanmar, April 2019
Kachin woman stocking up fire wood in an IDP camp along the border with China in Kachin Independence Army (KIA) held territory in Myanmar. More than 6000 displaced Kachin live in Woichyai camp near Laiza the stronghold of the KIA. Laiza, Myanmar, April 2019
Kachin man expelled from his land earning a living in an IDP camp along the border with China in Kachin Independence Army (KIA) held territory in Myanmar. More than 6000 displaced Kachin live in Woichyai camp near Laiza the stronghold of the KIA. Laiza, Myanmar, April 2019
A Kachin girl carrying supplies in Je Yang IDP camp in Kachin Independence Army controlled territory. The KIA territory is landlocked between China and the frontline making it extremely difficult for humanitarian aid and food to reach this remote conflict zone in Northeastern Myanmar. Je Yang, Laiza, Myanmar, April 2019
Kachin women and young children in an IDP camp along the border with China in Kachin Independence Army (KIA) held territory in Myanmar. More than 6000 displaced Kachin live in Woichyai camp near Laiza the stronghold of the KIA. Laiza, Myanmar, April 2019
Je Yang Camp, south of Laiza in Kachin Independence Army controlled territory. The KIA territory is landlocked between China and the frontline making it extremely difficult for humanitarian aid and food to reach this remote conflict zone in Northeastern Myanmar. Je Yang, Laiza, Myanmar, April 2019
Je Yang Camp, south of Laiza in Kachin Independence Army controlled territory. The KIA territory is landlocked between China and the frontline making it extremely difficult for humanitarian aid and food to reach this remote conflict zone in Northeastern Myanmar. Je Yang, Laiza, Myanmar, April 2019
A mother and her children in a camp for internally displaced persons in Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) held territory. KIO controlled territory stretches along the Chinese border with the frontline 20-30 miles more inland. Since the outbreak of hostilities in 2011 between the KIO and Myanmar Army, more than 100,000 people have been displaced and settled in camps in government held territories and in KIO controlled territory. Woichyai IDP camp, Laiza, KIA contolled territory in Myanmar, April 2019
Kachin expelled from their lands living in an IDP camp along the border with China in Kachin Independence Army (KIA) held territory in Myanmar. More than 6000 displaced Kachin live in Woichyai camp near Laiza the stronghold of the KIA. Laiza, Myanmar, April 2019
Twenty months old baby boy with his grandmother eating rations of supplemenatry feeding received as humanitarian aid provided by the Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC). The child's mother could not breastfeed him because of an infection and nutritional deficiency. The Kachin Independence Army territory is landlocked between China and the frontline making it extremely difficult for humanitarian aid and food to reach this remote conflict zone with China and the Myanmar military blocking most of the time humanitarian and other access. Hpun Lum Yang IDP camp in KIA controlled territory, Kachin, Myanmar, April 2019
Elderly woman in an IDP camp along the border with China in Kachin Independence Army (KIA) held territory in Myanmar. More than 6000 displaced Kachin live in Woichyai camp near Laiza the stronghold of the KIA. Laiza, Myanmar, April 2019
Event space in Pa Kahtawang IDP camp, Mai Ja Yang in KIA controlled territory in Kachin, Myanmar, April 2019
Kachin man cutting wood in an IDP camp along the border with China in Kachin Independence Army (KIA) held territory in Myanmar. More than 6000 displaced Kachin live in Woichyai camp near Laiza the stronghold of the KIA. Laiza, Myanmar, April 2019
