Internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Hsihseng Township, Southern Shan State, are facing an imminent food crisis due to a severe lack of humanitarian aid and donor support.

The crisis began on June 6, when the Pa-O National Organisation (PNO) ordered more than 6,000 residents from at least seven villages to relocate without providing any official explanation. The affected villages include Kawng Hto, Sa Laung Htaung, and Nawng Bo in the Nawng Kyaw village tract, and Ta Pu Htoe, Loi Ngon, Pin Set, and Taung Shey in the Naung Htaw village tract.

The forced displacement soon escalated into conflict. On August 9, fighting broke out in Naung Htaw village between Myanmar military troops, PNO subordinate forces, and the Pa-O National Liberation Army (PNLA). The PNO/PNA (Pa-O National Army) militias eventually took control of Naung Htaw and surrounding areas.

While many displaced villagers later returned after the PNO/PNA consolidated control, more than 400 people remain displaced. They are currently taking shelter in Hsihseng town, Ho Hke village, Phaya Phyu village, and Aung Chan Thar village. They cite continued insecurity, landmine risks, and concerns about their children’s education as reasons for not returning.

These families are rationing their remaining food supplies and surviving entirely without external assistance.

“We are waiting and observing the situation. We haven’t returned because we don’t feel safe. Our family has seven members. We survive on three condensed-milk cans of rice a day and wild leaves from the fields,” a displaced woman told SHAN.

Most of the displaced rely on daily wage labor, but jobs are scarce. Even when work is available, they earn only 13,000 kyats per day — a wage quickly consumed by soaring commodity prices. One egg now costs up to 500 kyats, and the cheapest, lowest-grade rice costs 4,000 kyats per pyi (equivalent to about eight condensed-milk cans).

“Prices are high, and we don’t get work every day. Because there is so little work, we have to ration food and cannot eat properly. We end up eating boiled leaves. And no IDP aid workers are helping us,” the woman added, emphasizing the lack of humanitarian support.

Fighting resumed in early October along the Shan–Karenni border, particularly in Pai Khun (Pekon) Township and the Mong Pai (Mobye) area.

“Because the fighting has started again, returning home is difficult. Also, the IDPs are not concentrated in one place. Some are renting houses, some are building small huts, and others are staying with relatives, so they are scattered,” a male IDP volunteer said, noting the challenges in delivering aid.

Security remains tense in the area. The Pa-O People’s Militia (PNO) and junta troops currently control Hsihseng town, operating at least ten checkpoints and enforcing strict inspections along the key Hsihseng–Loikaw road.

In Pai Khun, on the Shan–Karenni (Kayah) State border, returning IDPs do not feel safe and are gathering to sleep overnight in monasteries.