Displaced residents from Kanni village and surrounding areas in Kawkareik Township, Karen State, have begun returning to their homes after nearly a month in temporary shelters, as the security situation in the area has shown signs of stabilization, according to aid workers assisting the internally displaced persons (IDPs).
A representative from the Mon Rescue and Development Department said that fewer than 200 displaced people from Kanni village and nearby areas remain at Ywathit Monastery in Mawlamyine. The majority have already returned to their villages.
“Most people from Thayettaw, Kanni, and Kawtpalaing have gone back. Residents from Min Ywa village have also returned. There are only around 200 IDPs left in Mawlamyine, while 700 to 800 have returned to their homes. Some locals are still monitoring the situation to determine if it is truly stable,” the official said.
In recent days, the New Mon State Party’s IDP Support Committee reported that food aid was delivered to displaced communities from Kanni and Thayettaw in Kawkareik Township, Thaton District.
Meanwhile, humanitarian organizations are currently seeking permission from junta troops stationed in Taranar village to transport food supplies to returnees in their home areas.
“The military has told us who we need to get approval from. Sometimes, if aid groups go directly, it’s not permitted. Supplies have to be sent via vehicles used by traders. The problem is that both Taranar and Khayon Gu are under junta control, while the Kanni side is held by resistance groups. Transport is difficult, inspections are frequent, and they don’t allow large amounts of rice or goods through,” said a Mon Rescue and Development official.
According to local sources, clashes are ongoing in the Kyondoe–Kawkareik area, with junta ground forces deploying fewer troops but relying heavily on artillery and surveillance drones. Airstrikes are still being conducted in the region.
Between April 14 and 18, junta air raids forced thousands of residents from over 40 villages to flee toward Mawlamyine, Hpa-An, and Myawaddy.
Despite the ongoing military tensions, residents in the Kawkareik–Kyondoe area say the junta is pressuring communities to reopen regime-run schools and accept new student registrations, raising further concerns among locals.
