Desperation of displaced in Myanmar's war-torn north

This picture taken on Sept 19, 2012 shows an ethnic Kachin child outside his shack at the Nhkawng Pa Internally Displaced People's (IDP) camp in Moe Mauk township, near Laiza, a town in Myanmar's northern Kachin state home to the ethnic Kachin rebels' headquarters. -- PHOTO: AFP

A demonstrator wears a bandana with a sign against war during a peace rally held by demonstrators including ethnic Kachins, artists and civil society groups in Yangon on Sept 21, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

Ethnic Kachin people wave their hands at a ceremony to mark the International Day of Peace in Yangon, Sept21, 2012. Hundreds of people, including farmers and members from various ethnic groups, participated in the march against civil war. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

This picture taken on Sept 22, 2012 shows soldiers from the All Burma Students Democratic Front - Northern Burma (ABSDF-NB), and from their ally the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) firing rockets from an outpost on the Laja Yang frontline, some 10 kilometres south of Laiza, a town in Myanmar's northern Kachin state home to the ethnic Kachin rebels' headquarters. -- PHOTO: AFP

This picture taken on Sept 19, 2012 shows Kachin Independence Army (KIA) soldiers praying before taking their positions at a frontline camp in Loije township near Mai Ja Yang, outside Laiza, a town in Myanmar's northern Kachin state home to the ethnic Kachin rebels' headquarters. -- PHOTO: AFP

This picture taken on Sept 19, 2012 shows the Nhkawng Pa Internally Displaced People's (IDP) camp in Moe Mauk township, near Laiza, a town in Myanmar's northern Kachin state home to the ethnic Kachin rebels' headquarters.  -- PHOTO: AFP

This picture taken on Sept 21, 2012 shows an ethnic Kachin war victim lying on a bed at a hospital in Laiza, a town in Myanmar's northern Kachin state home to the ethnic Kachin rebels' headquarters.  -- PHOTO: AFP

This picture taken on Sept 21, 2012 shows a Kachin Independence Army (KIA) soldier and amputee sitting on a wheelchair at the KIA military hospital in Laiza, a town in Myanmar's northern Kachin state home to the ethnic Kachin rebels' headquarters.  -- PHOTO: AFP

This picture taken on Sept 21, 2012 shows an ethnic Kachin woman sitting outside her room at a relief camp in Laiza, a town in Myanmar's northern Kachin state home to the ethnic Kachin rebels' headquarters. -- PHOTO: AFP

This picture taken on Sept 21, 2012 shows an ethnic Kachin woman holding her baby at a relief camp in Laiza, a town in Myanmar's northern Kachin state home to the ethnic Kachin rebels' headquarters. -- PHOTO: AFP

This picture taken on Sept 19, 2012 shows ethnic Kachin children at their school at the Nhkawng Pa Internally Displaced People's (IDP) camp in Moe Mauk township, near Laiza, a town in Myanmar's northern Kachin state home to the ethnic Kachin rebels' headquarters. -- PHOTO: AFP

This picture taken on Sept 19, 2012 shows ethnic Kachin children outside their school at the Nhkawng Pa Internally Displaced People's (IDP) camp in Moe Mauk township, near Laiza, a town in Myanmar's northern Kachin state home to the ethnic Kachin rebels' headquarters. -- PHOTO: AFP

This picture taken on Sept 19, 2012 shows ethnic Kachin children outside their school at the Nhkawng Pa Internally Displaced People's (IDP) camp in Moe Mauk township, near Laiza, a town in Myanmar's northern Kachin state home to the ethnic Kachin rebels' headquarters. -- PHOTO: AFP