Approximately 800 individuals who have been displaced by the ongoing conflict in Kyauksu village tract, located in Bawlakhe Township, Karenni (Kayah) State, are currently facing an urgent requirement for shelter and mosquito nets, according to aid workers assisting them.
U Pho Khin, a humanitarian assisting those affected by the war, specified that the individuals who require immediate support with shelters and mosquito nets are those who were displaced during the second week of July.
"They still have a bit of food stored for about a week, but what they really need urgently is a mosquito net. The rainy season is here, and there are many mosquitoes near the forest. Some displaced individuals are even sleeping in trees, so temporary shelters are a pressing need. Our immediate priority is to provide tarpaulin sheets to be used as temporary roofs and mosquito nets. Additionally, basic medicines are also necessary. I anticipate that within another week or so, they will begin experiencing food shortages”, he told Kantarawaddy Times.
Apart from Bawlakhe, there is a growing number of war-displaced individuals on the Hpasawng side as well, reaching nearly 2000 within just three days, locals said.
Furthermore, since the end of June, the number of individuals seeking refuge in the Mawchi area and border regions has exceeded 5000.
In mid-June, the Military Council initiated airstrikes in the vicinity of Hpasawng, leading to the escalated clashes with resistance forces and prompting local residents to seek safety by fleeing. A resident from Hpasawng verified the ongoing military tension in the area.
"There is significant military tension prevailing in Hpasawng, Mese townships, and the vicinity of Hpasawng Bridge. The Military Council maintains control over Ywarthit and its surrounding areas”, he remarked.
As of now, the war-displaced individuals have been unable to return to their homes.
On June 25th, the Military Council conducted an airstrike on Nankik village, located near Hpasawng, resulting in the loss of four lives. Additionally, another person was killed due to shelling.
Moreover, as a consequence of the clashes in the region, Hpasawng and Bawlakhe are currently experiencing fuel shortages and significant price increases. At present, the price of gasoline has surged to 7000 kyat per liter, and its availability is limited, with not all areas having access to it.
"We are facing a complete fuel shortage, and now we have to search for places where it is being sold. On the west side of Demoso, gasoline is being sold at prices ranging from 3500 to 4000 kyats per liter, but we are compelled to buy it at 7000 kyats. Nevertheless, it is not available at every store”, a Bawlakhe resident told Kantarawaddy Times.
The fighting that erupted in the second week of June along with the ongoing military tensions in Hpasawng, have made transportation routes challenging, resulting in fuel shortages, according to locals.
