Residents from the villages bordering Thaton, Kyaikto and Bilin Townships in Mon State who are displaced by the clashes between the military council force and local defense forces are unable to return to their homes for almost two months, according to residents.
Locals have had to flee their villagers since last July due to clashes between the two sides. They have been forced to leave their homes for almost two months due to the continued firing of heavy weapons by the military council, residents and regional officials said.
“Residents are taking refuge in the nearby villages. Some people have fled to the southernmost area. At present, relevant organizations have urged us to collect the list of refugees. No one has come to help Internally Displaced People (IDPs) yet. We have not provided aid for the IDPs yet. Nearby villages help each other,” an official in Bilin Township said.
Nearly 500 locals from the villages fled to nearby areas as fighting took place between the revolutionary forces and the military council forces which conducted offensives in Padauktaw, Zeegone and Karawayseik villages in the third week of July. They are in need of aid.
Following the fighting, the military council usually fires heavy shells into the villages. The military council also does the same when the military convoys pass by. So, villagers don’t dare go home, an official of Bilin People’s Defense Force (PDF) said.
The military council’s camp from Thabyayni Steel Bridge fired heavy shells into Zeegone and Padauktaw villages as fighting took place between the revolutionary forces and the military council near Alulay village in Bilin Township in the first week of September, according to local news sources.
Due to the clashes in the Karen National Union (KNU)-Brigade-1-controlled areas in Thaton District and artillery shelling into the villages during its offensive operations since the military coup, the total number of IDPs has exceeded 100,000.
Armed conflicts have killed over 20 civilians and wounded over 80 others, according to the Karen Civil Society Organizations.
Sent by KIC