Residents of Htantabin village, where almost the entire village was burnt down in Tamu Township of Sagaing Region, have not been able to return to their homes until today and have to live in tents on the India-Myanmar border, the residents said.
A local woman from Htantabin village said: “There is no place to return to. There are no houses left. We have to pitch tents. We collect burned CI sheets and stay at the border. If we enter the village, we can’t stay anywhere. Where shall we go? There are few houses left in the village.”
At present, the military situation in Tamu Township is not stable. So, the people are worried and afraid, and it is difficult for them to return home and repair their damaged homes. So, they stay on the India-Myanmar border, she added.
Some villagers have to take refuge in Tamu and the houses of their relatives in other villages.
Htantabin village howe to the majority of the Chin people, is located on the Kalay-Tamu road. On 3 December, military council forces arrived in the village, took all the people to the football ground and burned the houses, residents said.
The people of Htantabin village fled to Tumu and nearby forests without bringing nothing. The displaced people are in need of clothes, shelter, rice, edible oil, salt and medicines, according to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
On 3 and 4 December, Htantabin village, which has around 300 houses, was burned down by the military council, and about 230 houses, including the church, were burnt to ashes.
Sent by KMG