Over 10,000 Kachin refugees fled to the China border with the commencement of civil war over the last three days between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and Burmese troops in Northern Burma, said KIO’s civil administration officer Salang Kaba Doi Pyi Sa, this morning.
Doi Pyi Sa said, “According to yesterday’s list, there are 2,291 refugees who arrived from Burmese government’s territories. There are over 300 in Ura Bum, 4,238 in Loije, over 2,000 in Man Win and over 300 in Maijayang.”
Early this week KIO opened six temporary refugee camps in Laiza headquarters. The refugees have not been allowed to cross into China.
Most refugees are from villages in government-controlled areas along Myitkyina-Manmaw (Bhamo) road, Manmaw-Loije road and Manmaw-Kai Htik-Nam Hkam-Muse road, said Doi Pyi Sa.
In the two KIO towns of Laiza and Maijayang, refugees are being provided food, sanitation and health facilities by KIO. No local and international refugee agency has arrived in the border so far.
Refugees said they fled to the China border for fear of being recruited as porters by Burmese troops rather than the war.
