A family taking refuge in a cave after fleeing fighting in Kyaikmaraw, - Photo from Eleven Media Group/ANN
YANGON (Eleven Media Group/ANN): As fighting continues in Kyaikmaraw Township, Mon State, more than 20,000 local residents have fled from the war, needing food and medicine, according to those helping the refugees.
The fighting has displaced more than 20,000 people from over 20 villages, said a man providing help to those displaced.
"Many of the displaced people are taking refuge in their relatives’ homes, monasteries and other nearby jungles and plantations in Kyaikmaraw, Mawlamyine, Mudon and Chaungson townships,” the man said.
The fighting started on November 10 when armed groups launched attacks on the police station in Chaunghnekhwa Village and security posts at Attran Bridge in Kyaikmaraw Township. Continuously firing heavy weapons into the Chaunghnekhwa region has displaced thousands of local people.
During the last weekend of November, clashes continued around Sabaigu Bridge near Makro Village in Kyaikmaraw Township, forcing many locals to flee.
As a result of these clashes, indigenous Mon people as well as migrant workers and families have been forced to flee the war.
Those helping the war refugees also say as the fighting prolongs, there are demands for fresh water, food, and medicine.
Local residents also reported that there were shootings in Kyaikmaraw Townships until the morning of December 3.
"The shootings are still ongoing, and the sounds of heavy gunfire are still heard every day. So we are afraid to return to the village, but we are facing difficulty with our living conditions," said a resident of the war-torn village of Hlakazai in Kyaikmaraw.
At least seven local people were killed, and around 15 others injured during the fighting. Moreover, many religious buildings and homes were damaged by heavy artillery explosions, according to local sources.
"Yesterday (December 2), some houses were burned down by heavy artillery shells in Chaunghnekhwa Village," said a local villager fleeing the war.
According to local sources, the KNU/KNLA/KTLA/PDF coalition forces destroyed Attran Bridge (Chaunghnekhwa) with a mine on November 17, claiming that the bridge was also located on the Myanmar military’s logistic support route. - Eleven Media Group/ANN
