As fierce fighting continues near the Ahnankwin strategic military base along the Thanbyuzayat-Three Pagodas Pass Road, nearly two thousand residents who fled the area remain unable to return home. The battle between the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and allied resistance forces against the military junta has left many stranded since mid-August.
The displaced residents, who initially fled to escape the conflict, are now facing food shortages and poor living conditions.
“Most of us are sheltering in the jungle, building makeshift bamboo huts or taking refuge in caves. There are no proper refugee camps or shelters. While some donors have provided aid, it’s far from enough. We’ve received only a month’s supply of rice, a small amount of cooking oil, some onions, and a few chilies. That’s all we have to survive on. No one dares return to the village, and some families are relocating to relatives’ homes,” said a displaced woman from Ahnankwin village.
The situation is particularly dire for the elderly, women, and children, who make up the majority of those displaced. In addition to the food crisis, they are also lacking adequate healthcare and medicine.
The battle for control of the Ahnankwin military base has seen intense clashes, with the KNLA and resistance forces launching heavy attacks while the military junta fiercely defends the base to maintain control of the area.
