There are over a million Kachin people in northern Myanmar and about 150,000 in Yunnan, China. Thousands have sought asylum in Thailand and Malaysia following a prolonged guerrilla war between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the Tatmadaw (Myanmar government troops). Originally animist, the Kachin began converting to Christianity around 1860 due to the influence of British and American missionaries, particularly to Baptist and other Protestant faiths. Today, nearly all Kachin identify as Christians, and the church plays a fundamental role in Kachin society, providing critical social services, especially for the large displaced population.
When Burma gained independence, the Kachin people were granted their own state within the country, with strong assurances of significant regional autonomy. Kachin State is rich in natural resources such as teak, tropical timber, gold, and jade. It is also part of the "Golden Triangle," infamous for its opium production. However, despite promises of autonomy, the Burmese government and, later, the military junta heavily intervened in Kachin affairs, depriving the region of its natural wealth and access to development funds. This led militant Kachin leaders to form the Kachin Independence Army in 1961 and launch a guerrilla war against the government. The conflict persisted until a ceasefire in 1994, which held until 2011.
Since 2011, repeated rounds of negotiations and short-lived ceasefires have failed to end the fighting. Over 100,000 ethnic Kachin have been displaced as a result. Human rights groups have documented severe abuses by government troops against the Kachin people, including land confiscation, mass rape, and summary executions. Many displaced Kachin live in camps along the Chinese border in KIA-controlled territory or in government-controlled areas. Conditions in these camps are dire, particularly in KIA-controlled zones where access to humanitarian aid is sporadic due to government blockades. The border with China remains closed to humanitarian convoys, leaving the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in KIA-controlled areas in a highly vulnerable situation, often in remote mountainous regions.
The Myanmar military continues to exploit the border areas for their lucrative natural resources, including jade and gold, as well as illegal drug production, large-scale banana plantations, and Chinese-funded development projects like the Myitsone Dam on the Irrawaddy River.
Since the military coup of February 2021, violence has intensified in Kachin State and the neighboring Sagaing Region. Newly formed People’s Defense Forces (PDF) are fighting alongside the KIA and Chin Defense Forces (CDF) against the Tatmadaw (Myanmar military regime). This alliance has allowed ethnic armies and the PDF to control much of the rural areas in Kachin, Sagaing, and Chin, while the regime maintains control over cities, towns, and major roads. To suppress resistance, the military regime has carried out sustained airstrike campaigns targeting both armed groups and civilians indiscriminately.
There are over a million Kachin people in northern Myanmar and about 150,000 in Yunan, China. Thousands have sought asylum in Thailand and Malaysia following a long lasting guerilla war between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and Myanmar government troops. Kachin were originally animist, however as of 1860, British and American missionaries began converting Kachin people to Baptism and other Protestant faiths. Nowadays, nearly all Kachin self-identify as Christians. The church plays today a fundamental role in Kachin's society and social services for the large displaced population. When Burma achieved its independence, the Kachin people got their own State within Burma along strong assurances of significant regional autonomy. Kachin State is very rich in natural resources such as tropical timber, gold, jade and is located in the "Golden Triangle" known for its opium production. Despite autonomy the Burmese government and later the military junta intervened heavily in Kachin's affairs depriving it of its natural wealth and access to development funds. This led militant Kachin leaders to take up arms and form the Kachin Independence Army in 1961, and starting a guerilla war against the government. The war continued relentlessly until a cease-fire in 1994 that lasted until 2011. Despite repeated rounds of negotiations and short-lived cease-fires, fighting has continued with regular occurrence displacing over a 100,000 ethnic Kachin since 2011. Human Rights groups have collected testimony of severe human rights abuses such as land confiscation, mass rape and summary executions by government troops against the Kachin people. As a result of the violence and human rights abuses over a 100,000 ethnic Kachin live in camps for internally displaced persons (IDP) along the Chinese border in KIA controlled territory and in IDP camps in government controlled territory. The humanitarian and psychological situation in the camps is alarming and extremely precarious in KIA controlled territory where humanitarian aid and food only reaches the area sporadically when government troops do not block all access. The border with China is also closed for humanitarian convoys leaving the IDPs in KIA controlled territory in an extremely vulnerable situation and in usually very romote mountain areas. In meanwhile the Myanmar military hinges on their control of these border areas that are extremely lucrative in terms of natural resources (jade and gold), illigal substances (drugs), plantations (banana) and Chinese large scale development projects as the Mytsone dam on the Irrawaddy river. Lambraw IDP camp where 557 people live since April 2018 after being displaced from their village 25 Km away. Namta, Kachin, Myanmar, September 2019
Kachin IDP in front of their shelter. All IDP camps in government controlled territory have been set up on land owned by local Christian churches as government land was not made available. The majority of Kachin follow the Christian faith. Nat Kyi Koong IDP Camp, Mogaung, Kachin, Myanmar, September 2019
Ngwi Pyaw San Pya village for returnees in Kachin State. Over 100,000 Kachin are still displaced within Kachin State since the armed conflict resumed in 2011 between the Myanmar military and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). Myitkyina township in government controlled territory, Myanmar, September 2019
Shelter for Kachin internally displaced persons. All IDP camps in government controlled territory have been set up on land owned by local Christian churches as government land was not made available. The majority of Kachin follow the Christian faith. St-Joseph IDP camp and its 2000 residents, Myitkyina, Myanmar, September 2019
Kachin internal displaced persons living among 560 people since April 2018 in an IDP camp only 25 Km away from their original village from where they had to flee. Over 100,000 Kachin are displaced within the Kachin State since the armed conflict resumed in 2011 between the Myanmar military and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). Lambraw IDP camp, Namta, Myanmar, September 2019
Kachin internal displaced persons living among 400 people on a very small piece of land since 2018 when they fled their village only 25 Km away. Over 100,000 Kachin are displaced within the Kachin State since the armed conflict resumed in 2011 between the Myanmar military and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). St-Paul IDP camp, Namta, Myanmar, September 2019
Land mine victim, 35 years, stepped on a land mine in March 2019 when returning to her village, Zup Mai, to collect wood with 4 other villagers. She had been displaced from the village since April 2018. Was treated in Myitkyina hospital and received a prothisis from ICRC in June 2019. The mine was on the main road at the exit of the village and has most likely been put there by the Burmese military after the conflict of April 2018. Landmines is one of the main reasons why people cannot go back to their villages. Myo Oo IDP camp, Namta, Kachin State, Myanmar, September 2019
Kachin IDPs in St-Joseph IDP camp in the outskirts of Myitkyina. Over 100,000 Kachin are still displaced within Kachin State since the armed conflict resumed in 2011 between the Myanmar military and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). Myitkyina township in government controlled territory, Myanmar, September 2019
Kachin boy in a camp for internally displaced persons in Kachin State. There are more than 130 IDP camps througout Kachin hosting 100,000 displaced persons. Mahong IDP camp in Mogaung, Myanmar, September 2019
Social and public area in Lambraw IDP camp where 557 people live since April 2018 after being displaced from their village 25 Km away. Namta, Kachin, Myanmar, September 2019
Displaced person since 2013 when his village was attacked by the Myanmar military. Living in an IDP camp ever since. Mahong IDP camp, Mogaung, Kachin, Myanmar, September 2019
Livelihood training for Kachin returnees organised by the Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC). Ngwi Pyaw San Pya village in Myitkyina township, Myanmar, September 2019
Father and his one year old son in Lambraw IDP camp where 557 people live since April 2018 after being displaced from their village 25 Km away. Namta, Kachin, Myanmar, September 2019
Kachin woman and her child in St Joseph IDP camp hosting more than 2000 people since 2011. Myitkyina township in Kachin State, Myanmar, September 2019
An elder and blind internal displaced person living in a camp for Kachin IDP in Mogaung. Mahong IDP camp, Kachin, Myanmar, September 2019
Livelihood training for Kachin returnees organised by the Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC). Ngwi Pyaw San Pya village in Myitkyina township, Myanmar, September 2019
Internal displaced person from Sulaing, a village only 35Km away from the IDP camp he is staying in since 2013. Returning to the village has been impossible as it is located along a confrontation line between the Kachin Independance Army (KIA) and government troops. Nat Kyi Koong IDP Camp, Kachin State, Myanmar, September 2019
Kachin child getting his hair cut. Over 100,000 Kachin are displaced within the Kachin State since the armed conflict resumed in 2011 between the Myanmar military and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). Jan Mai Kuang IDP camp near Myitkyina in government controlled territory, Myanmar, September 2019
Shelter for Kachin internally displaced persons. All IDP camps in government controlled territory have been set up on land owned by local Christian churches as government land was not made available. The majority of Kachin follow the Christian faith. Ziun IDP Camp, Myitkyina, Kachin, Myanmar, September 2019
Nursery, Ziun IDP camp, Kachin State, Myanmar, September 2019
Kachin displaced persons playing games in N Jang Dung IDP camp near Myitkyina in Kachin State. Their village is located on the frontline and their land was confiscated and is now being used for banana plantations managed by Chinese companies in agreement with the military. Kachin State, Myanmar, September 2019
Kachin IDPs in Waimaw Camp 2. Over 100,000 Kachin are still displaced within Kachin State since the armed conflict resumed in 2011 between the Myanmar military and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). Waimaw township in government controlled territory, Myanmar, September 2019
Small children at the kindergarden colouring the sign of plastic bottles harmful for the environment. St-Joseph IDP camp, Kachin State, Myanmar, September 2019
Kachin displaced persons since 2018 when fighting broke out between the KIA and government troops around their village. St-Joseph IDP camp, Myitkyina township, Myanmar, September 2019
Kachin child having lunch, Maina IDP camp, Kachin State, Myanmar, September 2019
Kachin IDPs in St-Joseph IDP camp in the outskirts of Myitkyina. Over 100,000 Kachin are still displaced within Kachin State since the armed conflict resumed in 2011 between the Myanmar military and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). Myitkyina township in government controlled territory, Myanmar, September 2019
Blind man, 48y, was hit by shrapnel while laying mines for KIA in 2012. Was severly injured at the arm and eyes and is blind ever since. Lived in Zup Mai until 2018 from where he was displaced when fighting broke out. Myo Oo IDP camp, Namta, Kachin State, Myanmar, September 2019
Kachin IDPs in St-Joseph IDP camp in the outskirts of Myitkyina. Over 100,000 Kachin are still displaced within Kachin State since the armed conflict resumed in 2011 between the Myanmar military and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). Myitkyina township in government controlled territory, Myanmar, September 2019
Elderly Kachin woman of 78 years who still has trauma of when she had to flee her village because of heavy artillary in 2011. She was recently treated for TB. The living conditions in the IDP camps are extremely precarious and are in particular a harsh environment for children and elderly. Maina IDP Camp, Waimaw, Kachin State, Burma, September 2019
Kachin IDPs in St-Joseph IDP camp in the outskirts of Myitkyina. Over 100,000 Kachin are still displaced within Kachin State since the armed conflict resumed in 2011 between the Myanmar military and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). Myitkyina township in government controlled territory, Myanmar, September 2019
Shelter for Kachin internally displaced persons. All IDP camps in government controlled territory have been set up on land owned by local Christian churches as government land was not made available. The majority of Kachin follow the Christian faith. Waimaw Zone 2 IDP camp, Waimaw, Kachin, Myanmar, September 2019
Shelter for Kachin internally displaced persons. All IDP camps in government controlled territory have been set up on land owned by local Christian churches as government land was not made available. The majority of Kachin follow the Christian faith. Nat Kyi Koong IDP Camp, Mogaung, Kachin, Myanmar, September 2019
Small children at the kindergarden colouring the sign of plastic bottles harmful for the environment. St-Joseph IDP camp, Kachin State, Myanmar, September 2019
Kachin internal displaced persons living among 300 people on a very small piece of land since 2018. Over 100,000 Kachin are displaced within the Kachin State since the armed conflict resumed in 2011 between the Myanmar military and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). Waimaw Zone 2 IDP camp, in government controlled territory, Myanmar, September 2019
Kachin child in a camp for internally displaced persons in Kachin State. There are more than 130 IDP camps througout Kachin hosting 100,000 displaced persons. Mahong IDP camp in Mogaung, Myanmar, September 2019
Distribution of SIM card for cash payments via mobile operator, organised by WFP and replacing food distributions. Maina IDP camp, Waimaw, Kachin State, Myanmar, September 2019
Kachin internal displaced persons living among 400 people on a very small piece of land since 2018 when they fled their village only 25 Km away. Over 100,000 Kachin are displaced within the Kachin State since the armed conflict resumed in 2011 between the Myanmar military and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). St-Paul IDP camp, Namta, Myanmar, September 2019
