Fighting around the town in Kachin State is intensifying, with 10 civilians reported dead over the past two days, according to local residents of Bhamo.
Since 4 December, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has launched an offensive against all junta camps between Bhamo-Mansi. To date, the KIA has taken control of seven camps.
A man from Bhamo said that the fighting between the two armies continues, and there are civilian casualties due to the explosion of heavy weapons in some areas outside of Bhamo.
“Heavy shells landed and exploded. These are not airstrikes. According to the data we have received, the total number of civilian deaths has reached around 10. We have heard that the people don’t dare to collect the dead bodies on the road in Khun Thar ward,” the man said.
According to locals, after the KIA and allied forces captured Nyaung Bin Thar camp between Bhamo and Mansi, heavy shells landed and exploded near a mosque in Khun Thar and Tat Kalay wards in Bhamo. There were also reports of heavy shell explosions in Phan Khar Kone and Let Pa Dan, along the road leading to Bhamo University.
According to the report, the number of civilians killed by heavy shelling has reached 10—two women and one man in Khun Thar ward, two men in Tat Kalay ward, three in Phan Khar Kone and two in Letpadan. However, the actual number of civilian casualties may differ from the reported figure due to limited access to phones and the internet.
The KIA’s joint operation entered its second day on 5 December, with fighting intensifying around Bhamo. Locals from Bhamo reported that the entrances and exits to Mile 3 and Khunthar wards have been blocked.
Since the afternoon of 4 December, military council troops have been stationed in Bhamo town, blocking all waterways and land routes. As a result, most people are trapped in the town, according to a local man.
“The town has only a few people. No one is allowed to leave. The water route has been closed since the afternoon, and the roads are also blocked. Junta soldiers are firing warning shots at those attempting to use the restricted routes, ordering them to turn back,” the local man said.
As a result of this situation, on 5 December, local residents from some wards, fled the town, raising white flags, with the help of humanitarian aid groups.
A local man from Bhamo said: “Nothing has happened in the town yet. The sound of gunshots has echoed around. Some people are preparing to flee. The gate in Nyaung Bin Thar is open for a short period, allowing people to cross.”
The KIA managed to capture seven small camps in Bhamo and Mansi Townships on 4 December alone. The fighting remains intense on three military fronts.
In August, the KIA captured Momauk town, which is part of Bhamo District. The KIA has been launching offensives against Mansi Township, the town nearest to Bhamo, and tensions remain high in the area.
Kachin State consists of four districts—Myitkyina, Putao, Bhamo, and Mohnyin—along with 18 townships and a population of over one million people. Bhamo District, located on the bank of the Ayeyarwady River, holds strategic importance due to its vital water route for military purposes.
Sent by KNG
