Since the first week of November, the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) who are taking shelter at the monasteries in Theinni Township, have been fleeing to nearby towns and villages through forests as they are concerned about rations and security, according to Theinni locals.
“Now the IDPs neither live in their homes nor flee to other places. Nobody can enter the township. Four corners of Theinni are surrounded by the allied forces. We are in big trouble. Some people are fleeing crossing the creeks by motorbike and through the forests. Nobody can use motor roads,” a stranded local from Theinni said.
A displaced woman said: “The Brotherhood Alliance has arrived near Military Operation Command-16. It has been four days since the Brotherhood Alliance has been trying to capture it. We are worried about rations and safety as the military council is carrying out indiscriminate aerial bombardments. The public is in big trouble. We are running for our lives.”
The people who fled the IDP camps in Theinni are flocking to nearby towns and villages in Lashio, Thibaw and Kyaukme by crossing the forests by motorbikes.
They have to pay a transportation fee of Ks-200,000 to Ks-300,000, said locals from Theinni.
“It is impossible to flee through motor roads. The IDPs are fleeing Theinni by paying around Ks-200,000-Ks-300,000. The sounds of bombs and gunfire are not heard in downtown Theinni. We hear the sounds of bombs and gunfire in Theinni everywhere. The people here are trying to flee to Lashio and Thibaw,” a local displaced woman said.
Currently, around 200 IDPs from Thenni are taking shelter at Yeikthar monastery in Lashio. They are in need of rations and shelters, according to Lashio locals.
Since the start of Operation 1027 on 27 October, more than 10,000 IDPs are taking shelter at 15 monasteries in towns and villages. Thousands of people are stranded in the villages.
They are facing difficulty in the availability of ration, according to youths from Theinni, who are helping the IDPs.
The IDPs are concerned about shelling and aerial bombardments as Kyaungkham monastery where more than 3,000 IDPs are taking shelter is very close to MOC-16 of the military council.
At least nine civilians have been killed and 15 others wounded in 12 days since Operation 1027 in Thenni Township. More than 100 civilian houses were also destroyed.
Sent by Shan News