March 31th, 2022
Due to the ongoing fighting, more than 7,000 people from eight villages beside Kalaywa-Yargyi Road in Minkin Township in Sagaing Region have fled to safer places.
In addition, around 40 children are suffering from diarrhea, said the persons who are helping the refugees.
The villagers are hiding in the forests due to the fighting which erupted between the military council troops and the People’s Defense Forces (PDFs) on March 23th.
Currently, the military council troops are stationed in the villages. They find it difficult to return to their homes as the military is doing extensive searches and firing heavy weapons.
A female refugee from the Konemaw village said: “I could bring a snack only. I have to sleep in the forest. It is raining. I have to sleep under the trees and stones without waterproof sheets. I have to borrow rice from another refugee due to a shortage of rice.
The refugees are in need of drinking water, food, medicine and waterproof sheets as they have been hiding in the forest for one week, a person who is helping the refugees.
The fleeing people are from Kyaw, Malmae, Pyartone, Seikthar, Htonegyi, Winwa, Konemaw and Kyawmaw villages.
Among the refugees are childrens and unhealthy persons. Around 40 children are suffering from diarrhea. Water is not clean. They have to drink unclean water. Some refugees are suffering from diarrhea. Three or four patients are in critical condition. There is no medicine here,” said
a 30-year-old man who is helping the IDPs.
There were clashes between the military council troops and local defense forces from March 23th to 28th, on Kalaywa-Yargyi Road in Minkin Township.
Seven soldiers of the military council and two members of the local defense force were killed in the fighting, an information officer of the Minkin-Taungdwin PDF confirmed.
On March 30th, around 100 soldiers arrived there via Kalaywa-Yargyi Road. Military tension continues due to the military’s hunt for the PDFs, a member of the PDF said.
Since March 23th, the Taungdwin PDF has requested the public to avoid using Kalaywa-Yargyi Road and move to safer places.
There were an estimated 889,900 IDPs across Myanmar including 519,500 people newly displaced since the military takeover and 370, 400 IDPs in protracted displacement from previous crises, according to the report released by the United Nations OCHA Myanmar on March 23th.
Sent by the NMG.