Over 2,500 villagers have gone into hiding in the jungle after the Burmese Army launched military operations in Nyaung Laybin district in the KNU's controlled areas in northern Karen State.

Two military columns, from the Light Infantry Battalion no. 599, Infantry Battalion no. 73 and 39, based in Moun township in Nyaung Laybin district are on patrol duty in eastern Moun Township since early October. This has forced locals to flee and hide in the jungles, an official of the Karen Office of Relief and Development (KORD) said.

"What I know is that about 2,500 locals fled to hide in the jungles when the military columns began patrolling this area. The locals in hiding are facing many difficulties in daily survival such as food shortage," Saw Htoo Kali the secretary of KORD said.

A majority of the villagers, who live in eastern part of Moun Township are farmers and grow rice mainly in slash-burn fields. Now it's harvesting time and the army has come to this area. At least 200 slash-burn fields have been damaged it seems, Saw Htoo Kali said.

"It is harvesting time for villagers and there are at least 200 slash-burn rice fields. When troops come to this area, villagers are scared to go to their rice fields so cultivation remains incomplete leading to shortage of food," he said.

Military columns fired motor shells over villages in Moun Township on October 7.  The troops burnt down houses and slash-burn rice fields, which was mentioned in the news by Free Burma Rangers on October 30.

Villagers who live in Nwar Laykho, Quiblay Hta, Hsaw Pho Hta, Nar Hteekho, Nyar Mukhee, Taw Pho Hta, Thay Hkayyu, Htee Taw Khee, and Tanar Hta in eastern Moun Township are now displaced. When Burmese Army troops come to the area, the locals are forced to move from place to place because they are afraid  of the soldiers.