The number of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Tanintharyi Region has reached around 30,000 in February and they are in need of aid, the persons helping the IDPs said.
The military council’s operations and battles displaced 27,600 IDPs in Palaw Township, around 370 in Dawei and Launglon Townships and more than 110 in Kawthaung Township.
Since late February, the military council has been conducting offensive operations in Tanintharyi Region with the use of excessive forces. They burned civilian houses and continued to commit the arrests and killings of villagers, according to locals.
“Their rudeness is terrible. The military columns committed the theft of public properties and rapes. Locals don’t dare to live there as soldiers abduct and kill the villagers, an IDP from Palaw Township said.
Since the third week of February, the military council has imposed a ban on the sale, purchase and transport of fuel and rations in Palaw which sees the highest number of the IDPs.
“The military council’s ban on the purchase and transport of fuels and rations makes the supply of aid to the IDPs more difficult. We cannot easily buy fuels. We are in need of funds to sufficiently provide aid to the increasing number of the IDPs as the commodity prices have gone up,” the person helping the IDPs said.
The military council has declared martial law in Palaw and Tanintharyi Townships in Tanintharyi Region. It has also issued a night curfew and an order banning gatherings of five or more people.
There were 358 battles in Tanintharyi Region from February, 2021 to February, 2023, according to the data collected by the Southern Monitor.
Sent by the IMNA