A/HRC/39/CRP.2 the more than 40,000 internally displaced persons in areas beyond government control since June 2016. They have now had no access for more than two years, despite previously having had access to these areas, with indications that the needs of the most vulnerable displaced persons are not being met.627 The Government has proposed that individuals cross conflict lines to access assistance, which would require displaced persons, the majority of whom are women and children, to undertake repeated long and dangerous journeys across conflict affected areas.628 Organizations requesting permission to undertake relief operations to these areas have reportedly been told that, if they want access, they should tell the ethnic armed organizations to sign the National Ceasefire Agreement. 629 297. In Government-controlled areas, the international staff of international humanitarian organizations are granted travel authorisations primarily for urban centres, with the result that they are unable to access the majority of displaced individuals who are located in other areas.630 National staff have also been subject to increasing restrictions. 298. Requests for authorisation to travel to deliver humanitarian relief are often refused, without reasons, or no formal response at all is received.631 Distributions of life-saving relief items are routinely blocked.632 While local organizations have some access to both Government and non-government controlled areas, they face increasing restrictions 633 and are also unable to access certain areas.634 In some cases, even when travel authorisations are granted, the Tatmadaw prevents deliveries being carried out, including in areas where there was no active fighting.635 299. The Mission has also received credible information that humanitarian relief personnel in Kachin State have been formally threatened with prosecution under the Unlawful Associations Act, after travelling to a non-government controlled area in 2018 to provide relief, and have been told not to travel to the area in future. 636 In addition, the Mission has received one report of individuals being beaten and prosecuted after they tried to deliver humanitarian relief.637 300. On the ground, the denial of humanitarian relief means displaced persons are left without adequate shelter for long periods, including in difficult weather conditions, such as during heavy rains, and face food shortages. 638 The Mission corroborated an incident in April 2018 in Tanai Township where 2,000 individuals, from Sut Yang, Sut Ya and Awng Lat villages, were trapped in the forest for nearly a month, in dire conditions, without access to assistance. Those trapped included pregnant mothers, children, elderly people and sick and injured individuals.639 One villager recounted the difficult conditions which led to the deaths of two children: On 11 April 2018, there were airstrikes and shelling on our village. We fled into the forest. We thought the shelling would stop but it was continuous. We ended up staying in the forest for four weeks. We moved several times because of shelling and we were afraid of the soldiers who were behind us. Sometimes there were drones and planes overhead, but they did not provide any assistance, they were just watching us. It was difficult in the forest. In the place where we stayed for the first three days, there was no water because the streams had dried out. Later, we only had access to dirty water, 627 628 629 630 631 632 633 634 635 636 637 638 639 76 K-069.1, V-155. K-069.1, K-069.2, QM-002; A/HRC/34/67, para 52. QM-002. K-069.1, V-156. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. K-142.2, QM-014, V-157. See also this chapter, section A.8: Emblematic incidents (Tanai). V-147, V-308. K-146.1. K-146.5. K-063.30, PI-029, PI-030, PI-103, V-156. See this chapter, section C: Impact of conflict, violations and abuses on civilians. See this chapter, section A.8: Emblematic incidents (Tanai).