The entire Shein Hkawn village in Kawnglanghpu Township, Putao Region, has been reduced to ashes, resulting in extensive damage and an immediate need for assistance.
Shein Hkawn village, situated beneath the icy mountains and a densely populated village in the Kawnglanghpu region, was completely engulfed by a fire around 2 o'clock in the morning on November 7, as reported by a local resident of Putao who maintains contact with the Shein Hkawn region, according to KNG.
"It's a level area on top of the mountain. Everything located there was consumed by the fire. There's only a small portion spared at the base of the mountain. The primary, densely populated section of the village was entirely devastated by the fire. The residents have been evacuating since the fire started."
The fire incident in Shein Hkawn village is known to have been triggered by a house fire that occurred at approximately 2 o'clock in the morning, making it difficult for local residents to determine the exact cause
Shein Hkawn village fire has devoured in flames over 200 out of the 300-plus houses,
Food storage facilities containing supplies for a whole year purchased- and collected from China- have also been lost.
KNG’s contact added, "Shein Hkawn has always been a bustling hub. Following the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, all trade routes to China were shut down. These gates were only recently reopened. This is why the local residents purchased food from China, and everything they had stored went up in flames."
With the entire village engulfed in flames, the local residents had no choice but to escape to the nearby hillsides, with just a single piece of cloth.
Shein Hkawn, located in Kawnglanghpu Township, is a snow-covered village, and its local residents are now without homes, urgently requiring social assistance, as reported by a Putao resident.
"Shein Hkawn village experiences snowy weather, and the current conditions are extremely cold. With all the residents' belongings consumed by the fire, it's safe to say they've been significantly impacted by this weather. Particularly, since food supplies were primarily reliant on China, there is now a shortage compared to the past. Providing enough food for over 300 households will be a considerable challenge," he remarked.
He stressed the urgent need the prompt delivery of food and clothing from China, as well as expediting the establishment of temporary shelters, to aid the local people of Shein Hkawn, who are currently dealing with the damages inflicted by the fire.
Shein Hkawn is a village located between the Kawnglanghpu and Chinese
border. Due to the logistical difficulties in transporting aid from Kachin State, assistance from China would be the most efficient and rapid solution.
According to reports, the homes of the local residents impacted by the fire in Shein Hkawn village were wooden houses more than 20 years old. The close proximity of these houses, positioned just 10 to 20 feet apart, led to their simultaneous destruction by the flames.
Another Putao resident expressed deep sorrow over the fire that ravaged public houses, which were over 20 years old, and valuable local products stored for the livelihood of the community.
In Kawnglanghpu Township, Shein Hkawn Village is remarkable for being situated on an snow-capped mountain. It is a destination frequently visited by tourists and is considered a well-connected village due to its possession of the largest border gate, linking the Putao Region and China.
The residents of this region sustain themselves through the cultivation of black cardamom and star anise, as well as by harvesting Caterpillar fungus (Cordyceps) and exporting it to China.
Shein Hkawn village is situated three days away by foot from Kawnglanghpu Township and is noticeably more densely populated and crowded than Kawnglanghpu.
