In Moebye town, located on the border of Karenni (Kayah) State and Shan State, clashes between military junta troops and resistance groups continue to occur frequently with the junta using artillery strikes and airstrikes to attack.
Amid these attacks, residents of villages east of the Pekon Lake, near Moebye, are grappling with fear while struggling to meet their basic needs. Below are the voices of some of the residents, sharing their concerns and challenges in the face of ongoing violence.
Daw Hla (Farmer, Eastern bank of Pekon Lake)
“I’m worried every single day. But we can’t stop working. I need to feed children and myself. So we have to work hard despite the exhaustion. I’m scared, too. Sometimes when I go to the fields, I can’t finish and have to return. We often hear artillery fire, even from the village. At night, I can’t sleep well. We have to sleep in bunkers sometimes. I worry about my children. I’m always afraid, constantly afraid. We just keep working, exhausted, all the time.”
Ko John (Brickmaker, Eastern bank of Pekon Lake)
“As soon as we hear artillery fire nearby, we stop making bricks. When it gets quiet for a bit, we start working again. We have no choice but to work, so in those moments when the artillery sounds die down, I quickly get back to it. That’s how we keep going. I’m worried all the time. When the artillery fires, we don’t dare work or make bricks at all. So when it starts, we stop for hours, sometimes half a day, and resume in the evening. If the artillery fires again, we have to stop again.”
Maung Hnyi (Sand truck driver, Eastern bank of Pekon Lake)
“When I’m driving around, sometimes artillery shells land right beside me, in front, or behind. But it’s just fate, you know? I haven’t been hit yet, so I guess my luck’s holding. Others are out moving around too. Even if they’re too scared to go, I keep going as much as I can. Because I still need to make a living. This truck is how I earn my keep, so it’s all kinds of tough. We face all sorts of hardships. There are so many things to fear. When a shell lands, your mind races, wondering how to escape. It’s mentally exhausting. The fear is overwhelming. My hands and feet tremble while I drive. You’re constantly thinking, ‘How do I get out of this? How do I make it to safety?’ The worry and anxiety—it’s all kinds of intense feelings.”
Daw Kaw Yati (Farmer, Eastern bank of Pekon Lake)
I’m terrified. I don’t dare sleep at home. I’m too scared to stay in the bomb shelter, so I go sleep up in the hills. I sleep in a hut at my upland farm. Because I’m so afraid, I end up staying in the bomb shelter sometimes. I keep all my kids close, and I don’t dare work like this. I’m too scared to eat well, and I can’t sleep well either.
Sent by Kantarawaddy Times.