Military helicopter attack uproots more civilians in Kayah State 

By DMG 25 Jan 2022

DMG Newsroom
25 January 2022, Demoso, Kayah State

Junta forces used an attack helicopter in clashes with a coalition of Karenni armed groups in Kayah State’s Demoso Township on Monday, forcing hundreds of locals to flee their homes.

Fighting broke out between the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF) coalition and junta troops after regime forces entered villages such as 6th-Mile, Hopheit and Ngar Myaung in Demoso Township, locals said.

A source close to the KNDF said the Myanmar military carried out three helicopter strikes against the anti-regime resistance.

“The fighting broke out when a large Myanmar military contingent entered 6th-Mile and Ngar Myaung villages from Demoso town, and confronted the KNDF coalition forces. The two sides fought for most of the day, with heavy casualties on the Myanmar military side,” the source said.

“As a result [of the casualties], the Myanmar military carried out three helicopter strikes against the coalition forces of KNDF,” he added.

At least 10 homes in Hopheit village, Demoso Township, were badly damaged in the aerial assault, according to local sources.

As a result of the fighting, more than 200 locals have been forced to flee their homes and take refuge in temporary displacement camps, according to a Karenni relief worker assisting those uprooted.

“Almost all displaced people are currently taking shelter at temporary refugee camps and they are being provided with relief items,” the aid worker added.

Fighting broke out in Loikaw, Demoso and Phruso townships on January 11, forcing more than 20,000 Karenni civilians to flee to Mae Hong Son, Thailand, and neighbouring Shan State.