There is an urgent need for aid for over 400 displaced people from Lashio, who have taken refuge in Wan Sein village in Kyethi Township in southern Shan State, aid workers said.
A local woman from Wan Sein village, who is helping IDPs said, ÒThe IDPs include Christians and children from orphan schools in Lashio, representing a diverse group. There has been no preparation for them, so we have had to accommodate them urgently. Some are staying in local homes, and there are many children from orphanages.”
Civilians have fled to safer places due to the fighting in Lashio Township in northern Shan State as a result of the second round of Operation 1027. Most of them have been unable to return home to this day, said aid workers and locals.
Among the IDPs taking refuge in Wan Sein village in Kyethi Township are nearly 200 children from two orphan schools in Lashio. The rest are the elderly and women, aid workers say.
There is a need for medicine as among the IDPs are the patients with chronic diseases and those who take medicine regularly.
Regarding necessities, a local woman from Wan Sein village said, “The displaced people fled with only the clothes on their backs. We urgently need blankets and rice due to the large number of IDPs. There is an imbalance between the number of donors and IDPs, and we have to accept them as this is the closest place.”
Among the elderly are over 70 years old. A cancer patinet died four days ago. We cremated him. Some IDPs are reciving medical treatment.”
The IDPs who arrived in Wan Sein village in the last week of July have been unable to return home as of 7 August.
The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA)-Kokang currently controls Lashio town. However, locals have not returned home and continue to monitor the situation due to the ongoing airstrikes by the military council.
The junta’s airstrikes and shelling on the civilian areas in the fighting in Lashio, killed 133 civilians and wounded 170 others, according to a statement by the Palaung State Liberation Front/Ta’ang National Liberation Army (PSLF/TNLA) on 31 July.
The military council’s airstrikes and shelling hit and destroyed monasteries, schools and 105 houses in Lashio town, according to the PSLF/TNLA.
Sent by NMG