Kler Lwee Htoo District Situation Update: Gold mining activities and COVID-19 restrictions threaten local livelihoods in Moo Township, May to July 2020
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This Situation Update describes events that occurred in Moo (Mone) Township, Kler Lwee Htoo (Nyaunglebin) District from May to July 2020. Gold mining activities along the Klaw Myaw and Puh Lo Kloh rivers have damaged local farmland and have resulted in the pollution of plantations and water sources. More than ten villages were negatively impacted by these activities, and several villagers lost their lands after the local Karen National Union (KNU) authorities allocated them as gold mining sites. The villagers affected now face livelihood issues and difficulties to access water. The local communities reported the problem to the KNU township authorities, to no avail. The KNU authorities also implemented travel restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19 in June 2020, which translated into livelihood difficulties for the local v