Selected images from a series by Sandar.
Between 2021 and 2023 Sandar, an ethnographer and documentary photographer, chronicled the journey of a group of medical students who fled Yangon city for Karenni state four months after the military coup on February 1, 2021. Her narrative delves into the pivotal role played by medical teams within an armed revolution, shedding light on their inseparable connection to the provision of healthcare for both civilians and combatants amidst the chaos of a war-torn zone. Through her work, Sandar challenges the conventional wisdom of the international community, which often focuses solely on civilian assistance rather than support for armed affiliates in the context of the Myanmar Spring Revolution. She underscores the reality on the ground – an interconnected web of all sectors – and advocates for a holistic approach as the most pragmatic way forward for the revolution in Myanmar.
In May 2021, a cohort of medical students arrived in Karenni state, one of the most volatile regions during the Myanmar Spring Revolution, launching healthcare initiatives in internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps. Initially, the group comprised eight medical students and two physicians. Over time, they established a clinic, offering daily healthcare services to IDPs and the general public despite limited resources. Within two years, they assumed a pivotal role in providing healthcare in the East Demoso region, one of Karenni’s most volatile and strategically significant war zones. In 2023, they clandestinely set up a fully functional hospital, which tragically became a target for air strikes by the military council on May 20, 2023. In Karenni, medical units and hospitals are frequently targeted by air strikes and artillery shelling by the council, with the intent to disrupt medical access for combatants and civilians alike, impacting the lives of thousands. Presently, the students are striving to rebuild the hospital but require substantial assistance. This documentation doesn’t merely recount the story of a medical team but serves as a testament to the challenges and struggles faced by numerous groups operating on the ground in Karenni, encompassing various sectors.
All images by photographer Sandar, to see more from this series and discuss licensing for publication or exhibition please contact saccaphoto@protonmail.com.