Homes abandoned by refugees near Ahnankwin village, located along the Thanbyuzayat-Three Pagodas Pass (Payathonzu) road at the border between Karen and Mon States, have been subject to looting.
Since mid-August, when resistance forces launched attacks on the military junta’s base in Ahnankwin, thousands of villagers from over ten surrounding villages have fled the area, leaving their homes behind. The military reportedly reinforces its presence in conflict zones like Ahnankwin, Thekkaw, and Sakhan Gyi, with troops often breaking into deserted homes to seize valuables.
“During the reinforcements, refugee homes around Ahnankwin were repeatedly broken into. Now, although access is blocked, displaced villagers still do not feel safe returning,” a representative from the Red Dragon Resistance Battalion-2 said.
The ongoing battle, including daily junta-led airstrikes and artillery fire, has continued into late October.
According to Nai Ae Mon, Director of the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HUFROM), such looting by troops has occurred in other conflict regions, deterring residents from returning to their homes.
On October 25, junta forces conducted an aerial assault on Sanpya Chaung village, where many refugees are currently sheltered. With displacement now stretching beyond three months, the shortage of food and shelter has become severe, despite donations from local and international aid groups.
