Many residents of Lashio Town in northern Shan State are worried and preparing to evacuate following an airstrike that killed three civilians and injured 20, on 9 September 2024.

The airstrike hit four locations in Lashio Town, including the General Administration Office at around 10:30 am on 9 September. As well as the civilian casualties, a Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) officer was also killed in the airstrike.

A Lashio resident said to Kachin News Group (KNG): “If airstrikes continue, we are preparing to evacuate again. Currently, to protect against thieves, one or two people from each household stay as guards during the day, and at night, everyone gathers and sleeps in one place.”

He added that three airstrikes previously hit Lashio between 30 August and 8 September 2024, but there were no reports of damage to buildings or injuries to people.

MNDAA forces took control of Lashio Town on 3 August 2024. Since then, fighting in the town has subsided, but residents are concerned that the junta will step up its attempts to recapture the town.

The aforementioned Lashio resident said: “There might be some form of agreement or negotiation between the MNDAA and the junta, according to the news that I heard. There are also rumours that the junta is preparing to regain control of Lashio Town.”

Some Lashio Town residents who already fled the fighting are only briefly coming back to the town to check on their homes before quickly leaving again.

A resident who previously fled and only returned to her home in the  town last week said that she might have to flee again following the most recent airstrike.

She said: “We are staying vigilant and concerned about the ongoing airstrike threats. We had just returned last week. Depending on the situation, we might have to flee again. It’s still uncertain how things will turn out, settling and living securely remains difficult.”

Though the MNDAA has not established full administrative control over Lashio Town, it is making efforts to ensure the continuation of essential services such as electricity and hospital operations.

Unfortunately none of the schools in the town have re-opened yet.

Another Lashio resident said: “We don’t know when schools will be able to reopen. For now, teachers are only taking the names of students who want to register.  Some people return to collect their belongings and then leave again. However, most have not returned yet.”

Currently, the MNDAA and the United Wa State Army (UWSA) are carrying out six joint patrols across Lashio Town every day.