Homeless IDPs in northern Thandaung appeal for help to build shelter

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Caption – A house damaged by shelling in Thauk Yae Khat village (Photo – CJ)

People hiding in the jungle after being displaced by fighting in the northern part of Thandaunggyi town on the border between Karen State and Karenni (Kayah) State, have appealed for help to build a shelter, according to aid workers helping the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

Some of the IDPs’ houses have been destroyed by artillery shelling, leaving them without a permanent place to stay. They are currently looking for a location where they can set up a safe and easily accessible camp, said a local man helping the IDPs.

“Five villages had to flee and have not yet found a permanent place to stay. They are hiding in the jungle. Some are staying with their relatives. As they can’t stay in their relatives’ houses for too long, they have asked for help to build a camp for them. We are still looking for a place that the donors can access and that is free from Myanmar Army’s offensives,” he said.

Between 10-18 January, nearly 3,000 residents of Thauk Yae Khat, Ka Lay Hta, Dar Yoe, and Lo Yar Do villages were displaced by fighting between the Myanmar Army and revolutionary forces. The displaced people are currently hiding in the jungle where they are facing various difficulties, according locally based IDP aid workers.

Some houses in Thauk Yae Khat village were also destroyed during the fighting between the two sides. According to local sources, the IDPs are in need of food and medicine.

“It was not heavy fighting. The resistance fighters were just trying to get the junta troops to come out. The military council side responded with artillery fire. The villagers had to flee. The gunfire was sporadic, not heavy fighting,” said the man helping the IDP, describing the situation.

Similarly , thousands of locals who were displaced in July 2023 due to fighting and airstrikes on the Yado area in northern Thandaung, Taungoo District – the Karen National Union (KNU) Brigade 2 area – are also still unable to return to their homes and are taking refuge in a safe place, according to local aid workers.

From 2021 to December 2023, over 20,000 people were displaced by armed conflicts in Taungoo District, according to a KNU statement on 18 January.

Sent by KIC.

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