Some 1,000 displaced locals taking shelter in a cave about one mile from Hsipaw town in northern Shan State are in urgent need of food supplies, according to the internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Although social aid groups have come to donate and help, but it is not sufficient for the roughly thousand people sheltering in the cave. They cannot return to their homes to retrieve food supplies because junta’s planes make daily overflights, according to the IDPs.
“There are so many displaced people that there isn’t enough food. Social aid groups come and donate as much as they can. No one dares to return home because the junta’s planes fly over every day,” said one displaced woman.
In addition, Hsipaw town is still experiencing a phone line cut-off. As the area is under the control of the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), residents fear potential airstrikes by the military at any time. According to locals, the remaining residents in Hsipaw town no longer dare to leave their homes.
“Now that the military is bombing areas controlled by armed groups from the air, we are also worried. We can’t even sleep well at night,” said a man from Hsipaw.
The TNLA launched an offensive against the junta’s Infantry Battalion 23 and Light Infantry Battalions 503 and 504 based in Hsipaw on 10 August, and managed to take control of Hsipaw town.
As the fighting between the junta forces and the TNLA and allied forces intensified within a week, more than 20 civilians were killed due to heavy artillery and airstrikes, and over half of the town’s population was forced to flee.
Sent by Shan News.
