Residents of villages in Nyaunglebin District, Bago Region -an area controlled by Karen National Union (KNU) Brigade 3-who have been displaced since 1 July reportedly still dare not return to their homes as the Myanmar army continues artillery shelling.
The artillery shelling has forced more than 4,000 residents to flee to safer locations. As a result, displaced residents remain outside their villages and do not yet dare to return, residents and people helping them said.
One resident said, “The residents of Yan Myo Aung village have taken shelter in Yaetwinkone and Okeshitkone villages. Now that these villages were also hit by artillery shells, they had to flee again. The army troops are firing not only from one village but from two villages where they are stationed. The villagers had to flee their homes when they heard the junta troops were coming to avoid a repeat of such an incident in Nyaungpinthar village.”
The Myanmar army’s targeted artillery shelling of villages in Nyaunglebin District such as Yaetwinkone, Nyaungkone, Thabyaykone, Yan Myo Aung, and Okeshitkone left two residents dead and six others injured, according to a 7 July statement from the KNU Central Executive Committee.
The armed organization further said in the statement that there were nine clashes between Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and Myanmar army troops between 1and 5 July.
The exact number of people displaced due to the fighting between the two sides remained unknown. Currently, only more than 2,000 people, including children, the elderly, men and women, have received aid, said a member of a Karen civil society organization helping the displaced.
“We have collected more than 2,000 people now. We are supporting the people on the list, but we still have needs. Now it is rainy season, and there are many mosquitoes. Since some have become sick with flu, we need medical supplies. We also need rice, mosquito nets and blankets,” he said.
According to the 7 July KNU statement, 13 residents’ homes were damaged or destroyed by the shelling. The regime soldiers also entered the monastery of Ohnpinsu village and forcibly took seven cell phones and 2.5 million kyats from residents who had taken refuge in the monastery.
In addition, 32 junta soldiers were killed and 22 others injured in the nine clashes between junta forces and the KNLA between 1 and 5 July, while the ethnic army suffered one death and one injury, the statement said.
Sent by KIC.