September 27th, 2022
Fighting between military council troops and the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF) in southern Kachin State has driven people from more than 100 households to downtown areas of Shwegu Township, residents said.
Locals said fighting between the two sides near Moesit village in Shwegu Township has been ongoing since Sept. 23rd and tensions remain high to this day.
“Members of the social aid group plan to go there this evening to distribute packages of cooked rice. It could be that there are still people living in unreachable places that we do not know about. Some of them are living in their relatives’ houses,” said a Shwegu resident.
Junta troops were stationed in Moesit village after the fighting, forcing residents to flee the village on Sept. 24th and take shelter in monasteries and religious buildings in downtown Shwegu, residents said.
On September 22rd, artillery shells from military council troops stationed near Kyuntaw village in Shwegu Township struck Moesit village, killing a child named Maung Zwe Naing Moe, 11, and injuring seven other civilians.
After photos of the child’s body circulated on social media, junta troops stormed homes in Moesit village and interrogated villagers, according to residents.
Residents of Sintat and Yayle villages have also fled to downtown Shwegu out of fear as regime forces set up ambush patrols in the villages.
Sent by NMG.