During the month of May, in Kanbalu Township and Kyunhla Township of Sagaing Region, a total of 653 houses from 17 villages were burned down. One local woman and two men lost their lives during these incidents.

According to an official from the Kyunhla activists group, among the 653 houses that were burned down, Hpokekone Village in Kanbalu Township was the most affected. More than 380 houses in Hpokekone Village were tragically destroyed in the incident that occurred on May 20.

The Kyunhla activist told KNG, " People from at least 20 villages have been forced to flee due to the ongoing combat operation, and 17 villages have been ravaged by fire. No fewer than 24 villages have been permanently damaged by  the war. One woman lost her life when she was struck by an artillery shell, while the other two men were arrested and killed.”

In Sagaing division the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) exceeds 50,000,” he said.

The 17 villages that were tragically burned down include Hpokone, Htauksharaing, Khaohntar, Magyikone, Sutat, Hpokekone, Thoeboe, Chinmyit, Thayetkhaung, Hpalanchaing, Nyaungpaungyin, Nyaninn, Kokekokone, Thanpuyarpinsu, Hluttaik, Sweahle, and Madaung.

According to an IDP relief worker, in Kanbalu District, the Military Council's Light Infantry Battalion 361, Light Infantry Battalion 368, Kanbalu 6006 Artillery Battalion, and Pyusawhti militia are engaged in daily combat operations within the villages. As a result, the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) is steadily increasing. However, there is a lack of assistance on the ground, making it crucial to provide emergency aid to meet their urgent needs.

"The number of IDPs has seen a significant and alarming surge. Unfortunately, there is a severe lack of assistance provided to the IDPs on the ground. As a result, the IDPs are in dire need of essential provisions such as basic food, shelter from rain, and medicine for common illnesses and diarrhea. Additionally, there is an urgent requirement for snake venom antidotes to address potential incidents," he said.

Since the military coup until May 31, 2023, more than 70,000 homes have been burned down in Myanmar, with the majority of them located in the Sagaing Region, as reported by Data For Myanmar. On June 14, Data For Myanmar released an announcement stating that over 50,000 homes have been burned down in the Sagaing Region.