In Mon State’s Kyaikto Township, around 500 troops from the military council split into two columns and began advancing into villages starting February 7th.
As these military columns entered the area, joint revolutionary forces operating locally launched intercept attacks, leading to intense clashes in the region.
During the escalation of fighting, military council troops continuously shelled residential villages with heavy artillery. As a result, there have been civilian casualties and deaths.
Nearly 13,000 people from almost 3,000 households across 19 villages in Alu village, Ngapyaw Taw village, Khaywe village, and Winkun village tracts in Kyaikto Township fled to safer areas.
Because military columns are still stationed inside these villages, displaced residents have not yet been able to return home. As the displacement period drags on, people are facing increasing difficulties related to food and shelter. To learn more about the situation of the displaced people, the Independent Mon News Agency interviewed Ma Saung from the Southern Burma Humanitarian Network, which has been providing assistance to displaced communities.
Question: Fighting has been ongoing due to military operations in the Thaton area. The KNU has stated that around 13,000 local residents have fled because of the clashes. Could you tell us about the current situation of these displaced people?
Answer: The fighting from the military offensive had largely ended around the 10th (February 10). Recently, there haven’t been intense clashes like before. The number of displaced people released by the Karen side is accurate. However, up until now, they still do not dare to return home. Currently, the State Administrative Council
‘S (SAC) troops are stationed in those areas in a permanent setup, so it is not safe for villagers to go back.
Question: Where are the displaced people staying?
Answer: They are staying wherever it is convenient. Since it is not the rainy season, some are staying in plantations or farm compounds. Others are sheltering in relatives’ homes. Some have fled to towns or moved to places where their family members live. There are no formally built displacement camps in this area. People are taking shelter wherever possible—at relatives’ houses, in their own compounds, or with acquaintances.
Question: What are the main needs of the displaced people?
Answer: The primary need is food—basic food supplies.
Question: What is the health situation among the displaced people?
Answer: So far, we haven’t heard of any disease outbreaks. They have been displaced since around the 10th, so it has been over a week now. During this period, we have not received reports of illness outbreaks.
Question: What challenges are there in providing assistance to the displaced people?
Answer: We are working on providing support and making connections. The main challenge is that the displaced people are not gathered in one place—they are scattered. Since they are sheltering wherever they can, it is difficult to provide aid all at once. We can only deliver assistance to places that are accessible. We are not in a position to support all 13,000 displaced people simultaneously.
Question: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Answer: Displacement camps themselves can become targets of the SAC. Because they can turn into attack locations, it is best to avoid large gatherings.
