Displaced locals in Yedashe Township, Taungoo District, Bago Region, remain unable to return to their homes due to fighting in the area between military council troops and the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), locals reported.
During the fighting, which took place from 1 to 7 April, the regime has carried out both airstrikes and artillery shelling, forcing residents of neighboring villages to flee to safety, and they still cannot return to their villages, according to a source close to the local defense forces.
“The military council side has even used tanks. On 5 April, they also fired with attack helicopters. They are conducting heavy military operations here because this area is close to Nay Pyi Taw and resistance forces can threaten them. Many local residents have had to flee their homes. Some have returned home, but most of them are still displaced,” he told the Karen Information Center (KIC).
In addition, displaced people are still on alert, although the area was quiet until 9 April and there was no armed fighting, according to sources on the ground.
A resident of Hswar town said most of the displaced had turned to monasteries and acquaintances in the nearest towns.
“When the fighting broke out, most of them fled to the towns. Some built makeshift shelters in the backyards of their friends and acquaintances. They are from villages in Yedashe, Hswar and Thargara, all along the Sittaung River. Some of thier houses were damaged by artillery fire. Few people have returned to their villages as the situation calmed down. Farmers are depressed because they had to leave their ripe rice fields only to be fed by cattle,” he said.
Also on 17 March, a column of junta troops advancing toward the villages of Hswar Ywarma and Ywarthit in Yedashe Township clashed with local defense forces. The clashes were followed by artillery strikes from the junta, forcing residents of neighboring villages to flee to safety.
As of February 2023, there were more than 30000 internally displaced persons in Taungoo District, an area controlled by KNU Brigade 2.
Compared to the number of IDPs surveyed in August 2022, the number of IDPs in Taungoo District has increased, according to a Karen Peace Support Network (KPSN) report released on 27 February.
Sent by KIC.