Ongoing battles means prolonged displacement for many villagers along Karen/Mon border

December 5, 2024

HURFOM: On August 18^th, 2024, the Karen National Liberation Army and its allied revolutionary forces launched an attack on the Ah Nan Kwin Strategic Military Camp located on the Thanbyuzayat – Three Pagoda Pass Road. Since the initial attack, which is at the border of the Karen and Mon State intense battles have been on-going.

The battle has been ongoing for more than four months, forcing the entire populations from Ah Nan Kwin, Sa Khan Gyi, Zee Hna Pin, Ye Ta Gon, Yaw Thit, Pa Yaw Hel, U Khway – Daw Yain, That Kaw and Lot Shan villages to flee their homes.

Most displaced villagers have moved to big cities such as Thanbyuzayat and Mawlamyine but more than 1,000 displaced villagers have taken shelter in nearby mountains, forests and plantations. After a prolonged period of displacement, residents are struggling to make any livelihood.

“Before, we could go back home after fleeing for five or ten days. But now we dare not go back as the junta has been targeting residential areas with constant air assaults and indiscriminate artillery attacks,” said a displaced person from Ah Nan Kwin village.

Displaced villagers have suffered from floods due to the rainy season, as well shortages of food and medicine. With the arrival of winter, they are in urgent need of shelter but no organization is able to provide assistance.

“In August, the displaced villagers who had taken shelter at the base of the mountains were having trouble with flooding. They wanted to go to buy food but they’re afraid of air assaults,” said a local resident.

The junta has reinforced their troop presence in Ye Ta Gon, Pa Yaw Hel and Zee Hna Pin villages creating widespread fear for more armed conflicts. Fear prevents villagers from returning to their homes.

“We’ve fled from the village for more than ten days but are unable to return home. The soldiers are stationed in the village and they haven’t retreated yet,” said a resident from Zee Hna Pin village who is taking shelter at a plantation.

Recently military tension had begun to ease, but the Well Ka Lee based artillery regiment launched indiscriminate artillery attacks targeting Ah Nan Kwin and nearby villages while military aircraft patrol nearly every day.

“The Well Ka Lee artillery regiment has been targeting Ah Nan Kwin with artillery attacks both day and night. In November, the military aircraft are patrolling three times a day,” said a resident from Phaya Lay Zu village.

According to a resident from Ye Ta Gon village, from August 18th to the 29th, 2024, junta’s air assaults and artillery attacks killed at least six residents including women and children.

The intense and prolonged battles have destroyed nearly the entirety of Ah Nan Kwin village and damaged the village monastery and some houses in Lot Shan village. The military junta has also cut off telecommunications in the conflict area.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under Feature, News