Rescuers on the ground reported encountering Military Council airstrikes in close proximity to the location where they were assisting internally displaced persons (IDPs) who had fled the fighting in Mese township, Kayah (Karenni) state.
The encounter with Military Council airstrikes made it considerably more challenging for the rescuers to carry out their operations effectively on the ground.
Ko Aung Zeya, a Karenni Free Burma Ranger (KFBR) providing on-ground relief, recounted, "Instead of artillery shells, we faced airstrikes. While assisting a group of IDPs, an airstrike occurred just 1,000 meters away from us. Swiftly, we moved to a safer location during the airstrike. The IDPs witnessed the warplanes in the middle of the road, and fear overcame them. Some people even ran out of their cars, and we had to guide them to safety. It was a challenging task, requiring a lot of time and support to reassure and guide them through numerous tense situations."
He mentioned that they faced airstrikes once again while undertaking the task of rescuing over 100 local residents near Kyauksu village-tract in Mese township.
During that time, a skirmish erupted between the two opposing sides in close proximity to Kyauksu village, causing the local IDPs to experience both physical and psychological distress and terror, as reported by the rescuers.
"In certain areas, distinguishing between drones and warplanes becomes challenging as they are constantly present, hovering overhead. They engage in firing when they sense suspicion, making it difficult to ascertain if they are targeting IDPs or not. The uncertainty of their intentions makes it hard to differentiate between attacks driven by suspicion or actual threats. At times, they fired with mortars," stated U Banyar, the founder of the Karenni Human Rights Group.
According to the rescue workers on the ground, during the rescue operation amidst the ongoing fighting, the local residents faced the challenge of having no clear direction and were unsure where to go for safety. This lack of guidance resulted in transportation difficulties, particularly compounded by the challenges of the rainy season, which made transportation even more complicated.
In June and July, the number of IDPs surged by thousands due to the escalation of intense fighting in Hpasawng, Mese, and Ywar Thit townships.
At present, a significant number of IDPs are arriving in Thailand seeking refuge. Within the state, IDPs are finding shelter not only in the homes of close relatives but also in the forests and mountains to escape the ongoing conflict and violence.
According to the statement released by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) on July 15, 2023, the number of people who have been displaced from their homes following the military coup in Myanmar has reached almost two million. Specifically, there are approximately 270,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Karenni State and the Shan-Karenni border area.
