At least 20 houses were damaged or destroyed in an armed clash between military council troops and a joint force of People’s Defense Force – Mandalay (MDY-PDF) in Hoke village tract in Kyaukme District, Shan State.
During the fighting that lasted over ten days since 5 April, at least 20 houses were damaged or destroyed, said a displaced person who have returned home told the Shan Herald.
“About 20 houses were damaged in our village. All the roofs and walls have been destroyed. There was continuous fighting in the village for more than ten days. When I came back to the village as the fighting calmed down today, there was no one in the village. The whole village had to flee,” he said.
The fighting reportedly forced more than 1,000 people from Konegyi, Hokhe, Konenyaung, Ye-U, Kyukaw, Narnwet, Tawmun, Innma, Hokho, Kular, and Lweingin villages to flee to safety.
Currently, the displaced locals are taking shelter in Ohnmathee, Lankhwe and Bantbway monasteries and are worried about returning to their villages.
“Some are feeling sad. And some who want to go back home are feeling worried and distressed. Some of them have lost their stored rice in the fire. Their houses have been uninhabitably damaged. So they will have to be completely repaired. It would great if there’s someone to contribute fixing them,” he added.
In addition, fighting can erupt any time because the military council continues making advances and deploys more troops in Naungcho and Pyin Oo Lwin, an MDY-PDF official said.
“The situation is still tense at the moment. Clashes can break out any time. They disproportionately bomb on both battlefield and non-battlefield areas. For security, we’ve warned the local population to stay away from the armed clashes,” he said.
As a result of the fighting between the junta forces and the MDY PDF joint forces in Naungcho Township, at least five civilians, including a child, were injured and houses were also damaged.
Sent by the Shan Herald.
