Armed clashes shuts down emergency services transportation efforts

July 7, 2022

HURFOM: The Burmese military and the local People Defense Forces (PDF) have had frequent armed clashes on the highway road between Ye and Thanbyuzayat Townships, in Mon State.

As a result local emergency response teams have been unable to use that part of the highway.

On July 1, members of the PDF, known as the “Mon State Taung Nyo People Guerrilla Force” announced that people would be barred from using the Ye-Thanbyuzayat highway from 9:30 pm to 4:00 am.

“The announcement has made it difficult to transport patients at night. We want to save patients but we’ll be harmed if they (the soldiers and the PDF) attack us,” said a member of a local emergency response team.

Local emergency response teams must request letters from doctors and local authorities to transport patients at night.

“When transporting patients at night, soldiers stop and investigate us at the check-point. Sometimes, we have to make a U-turn if we encounter an armed clash on our way,” said the member.

Security forces of the military junta routinely shoot people travelling at night, and there have been a frequent robberies and murders along the Ye-Thanbyuzayat highway.

On July 1, a local resident from Ye Town was attacked and robbed by six armed persons near Maw Ka Nin village, Ye Township.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News