Three children drowned, when the boat they were travelling in capsized in Thu Mwe River on July 29. The three children were part of a group of 42 Karen from Kwe Lel Htu village, who were fleeing to Phokpra Township, Tak district in Thailand.

Apprehensive of possible clashes between the Burmese Army and DKBA Brigade 5, which has rejected transformation into BGF, they fled. The three children died when the boat turned turtle in Thu Mwe River. Two children were three years old and one was a baby boy, who was 8 months old, a woman told KIC.

There were 43 people including the boatman. The boat was also carrying their goods. There were strong currents in the river because of the monsoons. Elderly people, women and children were travelling in the boat. The children, all boys could not swim. Only the body of the 8-month old boy was found, it is learnt.

The DKBA Brigade 5 had warned Kwe Lel Htu villagers escaping in advance of possible clashes with the Burmese Army. The displaced people are taking shelter in Phokpra Township in Thailand.

Similarly, over 100 families from four villages in Myawaddy Township, Karen state escaped to Maw Kel Htar and Mawli Chai village in Phokpra Township, Tak, Thailand on July 25. However, Thai authorities sent them back to Burma the next day.