Residents who have fled the fighting in Bhamo, Kachin State, are not only lacking aid but also facing human rights violations, according to the displaced.
The displaced Bhamo residents report that they were forced to flee due to the fighting that began on 4 December and they are not only receiving food assistance but are also facing forced recruitment by armed groups along their evacuation routes.
One Bhamo resident said: “Many displaced people heading towards Mandalay and Shwegu are being taken as porters by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA). Near Sagaing Bridge in Mandalay, the junta soldiers are stopping and detaining people who enter the area. We have to be extra careful because of this.”
After more than two weeks of fighting, many displaced Bhamo residents have crossed the Irrawaddy River west of the town, heading towards Shwegu, Katha, and Mandalay, while many others have moved to Myitkyina.
Similarly, large numbers have fled to areas including Mong Hkawng, Han Htet, In Bar Par, Dein Hsin Par, and Mong Jar Yang. Many families have lost contact with each other due to phone connectivity issues, said a woman from Banmauk who fled to Myitkyina.
“All the monasteries, churches, and private homes are full. Travel costs are extremely high – it cost 300,000 kyats per person just to reach Myitkyina. Some elderly and stroke patients from our ward couldn’t leave and had to stay behind.”
The fierce fighting began on 4 December when the combined troops of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and Kachin People’s Defense Forces (KPDF) launched simultaneous attacks on all military junta camps around Banmauk and Masi.
According to the internally displaced persons (IDPs), the sudden intensity of the fighting left local people unable to prepare, forcing them to flee in different directions without clear destinations.
Bhamo had also been sheltering many people who fled from nearby areas such as Momauk and Mansi during the KIA and allied forces’ operations that began last March.
Now, with intense fighting within Bhamo, both local residents and people taking refuge in the town have had to flee again. They are facing various difficulties including extremely high travel costs and lack of assistance.
Aid workers report that around 50,000 civilians have fled Bhamo, while some elderly residents remain trapped inside due to various difficulties.
A displaced Bhamo resident who fled to Mandalay said: “When IDPs came from Mansi and Momauk before, we Bhamo residents supported them with rice, cooking oil, and food. But when we had to flee, there was no one to help us. Even in Mandalay, we’re on our own with no support or assistance.”
Meanwhile, with almost all Bhamo residents having fled, there are reports of break-ins and looting at homes, phone shops, and grocery stores.
During over two weeks of fighting in Bhamo, around 200 civilians have been killed. Some Kachin civil society organizations have issued statements highlighting how displaced Bhamo residents are being neglected.
Daw Nang Pu, a Kachin civil society activist, said: “Currently, displaced Bhamo residents are being neglected by the UN, CSOs, NGOs, and the international community.”
Details about the people displaced from Bhamo is currently difficult to obtain due to various communication difficulties.
Women’s organizations are calling for people in areas where refugees are seeking shelter to help them warmly rather than neglect them.
Daw Nang Pu added: “Let’s help the IDPs who have arrived after going through real difficulties. Those fleeing from Bhamo should try to connect with people who can provide them security. When they reach Mandalay, people there should help them warmly. I want to say that we should help IDPs who arrive in our areas warmly rather than neglecting them.”
Fighting in Bhamo was ongoing as of 16 December, with the military council responding with heavy airstrikes. Those who have fled the town report many bodies cannot be retrieved.
Bhamo Township consists of 16 wards, 41 village tracts, and 71 villages, with a population of around 110,000 people.
Sent by KNG
