An exodus of refugees has begun near the Chinese border in northern Burma fearing that they will be recruited as porters by the Burmese Army as the civil war with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) snowballs.
In two days, nearly 1,000 Kachin refugees fled to KIA’s Laiza headquarters on the Sino-Burma border in eastern Kachin State, reported a Kachin News Group reporter from Laiza today.
Till date there are nearly 1,500 refugees in Laiza and more and more refugees are arriving in Laiza since Burmese troops began an offensive on the KIA in Sang Gang in Manmaw (Bhamo) district on June 9, said Laiza residents.
The refugees are mainly from Laja Yang village, Lawa Yang village, Na Lung Village, Madi Yang village, Mai Sak Pa village, Ban Dawng village, Hka Ya village and Nam San Yang village, around Laiza in Waingmaw Township and Dawhpumyang sub-township.
They fled to Laiza each in his or her own way ---- some walked, some left by auto rickshaws and others fled in cars, said eyewitnesses.
The refugees are being identified and listed by officials of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), the political wing of the KIA and are being taken care of by churches at the headquarters, said the KNG reporter.
Over a 100 refugees are hiding near the China border near the Taping dam in the KIA’s Battalion 15, said sources among refugees.
Till now, most of the refugees are sheltered near the China border but are not crossing into China, according to refugees.
No local or international non-governmental organization working with refugees have arrived on the border, said KIA officers.
KIA officers in Laiza said a fresh influx of refugees is expected after the first day of fighting started yesterday night. The KIA destroyed dozens of key bridges in Kachin State and Northern Shan State.
