Entire population of 6 villages near Shweku Township in Kachin State and outskirts of Sagaing Region were forced to flee due to the battles between the Military Council troops and People’s Defence Forces (PDFs).
During the fighting that started in the morning of October 11, the Military Council suffered casualties. After that, the Military Council columns entered the villages of Simugyi, Simulay, Sitha, Manwane, Nantlan and Nautlatkyi, causing the villagers to run away in panic, a local told Myitkyina News Journal.
“All the villagers have fled. Ever since they heard that the army was coming, they all ran away. There is no one left in the whole village”, he said.
A member of Yonkyiyar Charity Organization helping the war refugees said that the number of people who fled from those 6 villages to Shweku Township increased to 200 people in just one day.
“There are many people sheltering in Myaintharay, Mingala Monasteries and Honkham Avenue here. A huge number of villagers also fled to Moken near the border of Shan and Kachin States'', he said. The total number of people fleeing the war from the above villages could be near 600.
In September, fighting raged in Moesit, Yayle and Sintap Villages in Shweku Township, forcing about 400 residents to flee. During the fighting, an 11-year-old child from Moesit Village was killed by an artillery shell fired by the Military.
The Military Council troops invading the villages in the region have arrived from Zinbon Village. There are also speculations that these troops may have moved from Sing Khan village in Bhamo Township in early October.
