A convoy of 10-wheel trucks carrying aid and supplies to Kachin war refugees arrived in Hpakant on Monday night, a high-ranking member of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has confirmed.

The convoy had been held up by local Myanmar authorities in Kachin State capital Myitkyina on February 13, supposedly because two foreigners were among the UN group headed into the conflict zone.
“The cars left Myitkyina yesterday [February 17] morning and drove to Kamaing,” said Lt-Col. Zau Doi of KIA Battalion 6. “This morning [February 18] they left Kamaing and reached Hpakant at night. Altogether, six trucks carrying aid and four vehicles carrying personnel arrived safely.”
Zau Doi said that the local officials in Myitkyina had delayed the aid convoy while they requested authorization from Naypyitaw to allow the two foreigners to accompany the delivery. “Apparently they got the permission and the convoy was allowed to depart with the two [unnamed] foreigners on board,” he said.
On Monday, Mizzima reported that the UN had released a statement saying that UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Ashok Nigam had been among the team that departed for Hpakant “to assess the situation in 41 camps hosting some 5,000 people.
“The group carried with them food, including rice, pulses, oil and salt, as well as family kits including tarpaulins, kitchen sets, blankets, mosquito nets, basic medical supplies and water purification materials,” the statement said.
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