Thousands of residents from more than five villages, including Me Pali, Nyaung Htauk, Nat Gyi, and Zigon, have fled their homes due to shelling and airstrikes by the junta in Bilin Township, which lies in Thaton District within the Karen National Union (KNU) Brigade-1 Territory, according to locals.
After the gunfire near the Mepali base camp in Bilin Township in the first week of January, the military council launched airstrikes and shelling on nearby villages.
“Some people from Nyaung Htauk, Nat Gyi, and Me Pali villages have sought refuge in our village, and we are doing our best to help them. The military attacked the area around Mepali with Y-12 planes and drones. In recent days, the junta also fired 120-mm shells at Alugyi from Kyaikto. The shells landed near the village,” said a local man from Alu village in Bilin Township.
As the shelling from the military camp continued until 8 January without significant fighting, locals fled to nearby Bilin Township and Kyaikto Township, according to officials from the KNU’s Brigade-1 and news sources assisting internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Since the displaced locals are not yet in a safe position to return home, the villagers hosting them are providing food and support for the time being.
A local man helping the IDPs said: “The total number of IDPs has exceeded a thousand when counting those from all the villages. My village, Natgyi, is hosting hundreds of IDPs. Currently, we are providing the IDPs with the help of our friends. We are helping them with three bags of rice from one place and two bags of rice from another place.”
The KNU’s Thaton District announced that during raids on nearby camps and villages, junta soldiers from the Me Pali village camp arrested locals, beat innocent residents, and fired shells from the camp.
According to the KNU’s Brigade-1, the military council’s attacks on 3 January killed a local man and woman, and left three others injured in Nat Gyi village.
Sent by KIC.
