Six Villages Forced to Flee Amid Dawei Eastern Forest Conflict

February 26, 2024

HRUFOM: Six villages in the Dawei Eastern Forest area have been forced to evacuate their homes due to heavy and prolonged armed clashes between the military junta and the People’s Defense Forces. The conflict escalated after the People’s Defense Forces attacked 17 military trucks near Thin Gan Tone village on February 17, sparking intense battles that have continued since.

“The armed clashes have persisted for three consecutive days, resulting in the destruction of three houses,” reported a resident of Thin Gan Tone. “The military junta occupied the village for two days before moving on to Wa Gone village.“

As a result of the violence, residents of Pa Khat, Rammazu, Tha Yet Ngote, Lake Kyel Pyaung, Thin Gan Tone, and Wa Gone villages have been forced to flee their homes, seeking refuge in nearby forests and plantations. “Being displaced and hiding in the forest makes obtaining food challenging,” lamented one evacuee.

Furthermore, on February 21, the junta launched four air assaults between Wa Gone and Kyauk Mel Taung villages, marking the first aerial attack in the Dawei Eastern Forest area.

To exacerbate the situation, military checkpoints at Byaw Taw Wa and Pa Kar Ri have restricted the transportation of essential supplies such as rice, cooking oil, and medicine. Consequently, the prices of commodities in the Dawei Eastern Forest area have skyrocketed, doubling the financial burden on residents.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News