Amid ongoing clashes between the Tatmadaw and TNLA, more than 500 IDPs are staying in a makeshift camp and nearly 300 are taking refuge in a monastery.
More than 800 internally displaced people (IDPs) from nearly 10 communities have sought shelter in northern Shan State’s Namtu Township in the last week following recent clashes between government forces and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA).
Arriving in the villages of Mansan and Mong Mu—both in Namtu—the displaced have been fleeing their homes due to battles that have been taking place since August 29.
More than 500 IDPs are staying in a makeshift camp in Mansan and nearly 300 IDPs are taking refuge in a monastery in Mong Mu, according to volunteer Sai Myint.
“The battles are still happening until now. A truck loaded with IDPs arrived at our village this morning,” Sai Myint told SHAN.
The IDPs are from the Namtu Township villages of Nam Selin, Manmai, Manpon, Sangkha, Kawnghong, Nawng Nguen, Loi Pang Paeng, and Loi Han villages.
There is not enough food to support the displaced long-term, Sai Myint said.
A local from Sangkha village told SHAN that two shells landed near the community late last week, leading people to flee.
“Nobody was hurt, but houses were damaged. Battles often break out in our area. We have faced many troubles because of those battles,” he said, adding that it is particularly difficult to cultivate their rice paddies due to the ongoing armed conflict.
According to 40 year-old Kawnghong resident Lon Awng, a Tatmadaw—Burma Army—column arrived in the village on August 29. He said that the headman of Kawnghong was detained for 24 hours by soldiers from the Northern Alliance of ethnic armed groups—of which the TNLA is a member—for failing to report the military’s movement.
In recent months, Namtu Township has seen multiple clashes between the Burma Army and Northern Alliance troops, as well as between the Burma Army and the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army.
