Internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Taunggyi, the capital of Shan State, are reportedly being required to register on local “guest lists” each week, paying 3,000 kyats per person every time—an added burden as living costs continue to rise.

Many of the displaced families, who fled from Loikaw in Karenni (Kayah) State and parts of northern Shan State following clashes in late 2023, say the requirement has become a persistent strain as they attempt to rebuild their lives.

With no official IDP camps in Taunggyi, most displaced people are forced to rent accommodation in urban wards. Residents say ward administrators under the regime’s General Administration Department mandate weekly registration and threaten legal action against those who fail to comply.

“We are renting a house in Taunggyi, but we have to report our guest list every single week. It costs 3,000 kyats per person each time. For a family of about eight, we have to pay 24,000 kyats a week. We have no choice—they threatened to call the police if we didn’t register,” a displaced woman from Loikaw told SHAN.

According to local residents, authorities also pressure landlords not to rent to those who fail to meet registration requirements, further restricting housing options for displaced families.

In addition to the weekly fees, some IDPs report being required to pay monthly charges described as “conscription fees,” ranging from 20,000 to 30,000 kyats.

“We have to pay the conscription fee every month. The amount varies; sometimes it is 20,000 kyats, and other times it goes up to 30,000 kyats,” a displaced man from Kyaukme said.

Although fighting has subsided in parts of northern Shan State and around Loikaw, many displaced residents say they cannot return home because their houses were destroyed by artillery shelling and airstrikes.

At the same time, the cost of living in Taunggyi continues to rise sharply. Residents report that renting a modest house can cost up to 800,000 kyats per month, while a pyi of rice (approximately 2.1 kilograms) now costs around 5,000 kyats.

With most IDPs relying on irregular daily wage labor—earning about 10,000 kyats per day—many say their income is insufficient to cover basic expenses.

“We are trying to rebuild our lives here. We depend on daily labor, but there is not work every day, so we have no stable income. Prices are rising, rent is rising, and we still have to pay for guest list registration and conscription fees. Everything we earn is never enough. I want to go home so badly,” the woman said.

Displaced residents added that, after more than two years, humanitarian support has declined, leaving many families increasingly vulnerable.

As fuel prices and commodity costs continue to climb, both displaced people and low-income residents in Taunggyi face growing challenges in meeting their basic needs.