Fighting between the Myanmar military and the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) in Lay Kay Kaw town, Kayin State, has forced some 2,500 locals to flee their homes near the Thai border, with the Thai government providing humanitarian assistance, according to the Aid Alliance Committee (AAC).

Of the 2,503 internally displaced people (IDPs), 545 are minors, and aid is being provided to the IDPs, said Ko Ye Min, an official with the AAC.

“They are provided with the necessary assistance such as warm clothes and food items. We appeal to the people to help the IDPs,” he told DMG.

Armed hostilities between the Myanmar military (Tatmadaw) and the KNLA began after junta troops entered Lay Kay Kaw, a town in the territory of the Karen National Union (KNU), in recent days. Homes were damaged and destroyed, and thousands of civilians fled as Tatmadaw soldiers took positions on hills in the area and fired artillery shells on residential areas, according to the KNLA, which is the KNU’s armed wing.

Dr. Win Myat Aye, minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management of the exiled National Unity Government (NUG), on December 16 urged neighbouring Thailand and the Myanmar people to provide humanitarian assistance to displaced people fleeing across the border.

Myanmar’s military regime has not yet commented on the Lay Kay Kaw hostilities, which reportedly spilled over into Thailand, across the Thaungyin (aka Moei) River.

“An elderly man was seriously injured when artillery shells fired by the Myanmar military fell on the Thai side. Troops from the Thai side intimidated the junta soldiers and the military council members retreated,” an IDP said.

Thai authorities have warned that they will retaliate if the Myanmar military fires more artillery shells that reach the Thai side.

Tatmadaw troops reportedly arrested dozens of pro-democracy activists on December 14, including a doctor who had joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), and two National League for Democracy MPs from Myaungmya and Maubin townships in Ayeyarwady Region, with fighting that first flared on December 15 continuing into Friday.

Casualties have been reported on both sides of the conflict, with KNLA troops joined by the local People’s Defence Force in opposition to the Tatmadaw encroachment on KNU territory.