August 9th, 2022
Fighting between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and military council troops on the Waingmaw-Sadon-Kanpaiktee Road has forced more than 400 locals to seek refuge in three locations in Sadon urban areas in Kachin State. They are in urgent need of help, according to locals.
A week ago, the IDPs fled their villages to escape the fighting. Now they need the basic necessities of food and clothing, said a person helping the IDPs.
“We need the basic necessities to live here. Because we left our village immediately and we couldn’t take anything with us. In the long run, we’ll need shelters. But we don’t know how long the war will last.”
After fighting between the KIA and military council troops near Inwankawng village on the Waingmaw-Kanpaiktee Road in early August, residents of nearby villages sought refuge at Sadon KBC Church, Lisu Church, and the hostel.
“Right now, we’re living in a Kachin Baptist Church in Sadon. Another group is in Myanmar Lisu Christian Church and the other in Upper Myanmar Lisu Christian Hostel and Church. I think there are about 500 of them,” said a local from Sadon.
On August 2nd, the KIA attacked and burned down a junta military camp near Inwankawng village. On August 3rd, it carried out landmine attacks on junta reinforcement troops.
According to locals, a column of junta troops near Bumtaung village on the Waingmaw-Kanpaiktee Road was attacked with mines, killing ten soldiers, including the military council’s deputy battalion commander.
The fighting began on August 2nd and gunfire could still be heard until August 7th, locals said.
“The fighting is still going on. They began last Tuesday after the KIO occupied the Waingmaw-Sadon-Kanpaiktee route. The village is about 30 miles from Waingmaw. Its name is Inwankawng,” said a Sadon resident.
Locals said KIA Battalion 3 troops are currently stationed near Sadon Falls. Fighting between the two sides flared up in Waingmaw Township in the second week of July and has now spread to Sadon Township.
Sent by NMG