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Kachin

Kachin State

Kachin State is the northernmost state of Myanmar. It is bordered by China to the north and east; Shan State to the south; and Sagaing Region and India to the west. Kachin State has Myanmar’s highest mountain, Hkakabo Razi (5,889 metres (19,321 ft)), forming the southern tip of the Himalayas, and a large inland lake, Indawgyi Lake. The majority of the state's 1.2 million inhabitants are ethnic Kachin, also known as Jinghpaw. The state is home to other ethnic groups including the Rawang, Lisu, Zaiwa, Lawngwaw, Lachik, Shan and a small number of Tibetans. Christianity (Protestant and Roman Catholic) is the main religion in Kachin State.

The economy of Kachin State is predominantly agricultural. The main products include rice, teak, sugar cane. Mineral products include gold and jade. Renewed fighting between the Kachin Independence Army and the Burmese army began on June 9, 2011 at Ta-pein hydropower plant and continued throughout 2012. Initial reports suggested that from June to September 2011 a total of 5,580 Internally Displaced Persons from 1,397 households arrived at 38 IDP camps under Myanmar Government control.

In August, 2012 Thousands of Kachin refugees were forced by the Chinese Government back into Myanmar despite the continued fighting there, calls to cease such action by NGOs like Human Rights Watch and the illegality of doing so under international law. As of Oct 9, 2012, over 100,000 IDPs are taking shelter in various camps across Kachin State. The majority of IDPs (est. 70,000) are currently sheltering in KIA controlled territory. Fatality estimates were difficult to estimate but most reports suggested that between government troops, Kachin Independence Army rebels, and civilians upwards of 1,000 people had died in the conflict.