Displaced Karen State villagers need food, clothes

By DMG 25 May 2022

DMG Newsroom
25 May 2022, Myawaddy 

More than 500 people recently displaced by fighting between the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and Myanmar military need clothes and food, said humanitarian workers helping displaced people near the Myanmar-Thai border. 

The displaced people are currently taking shelter at a displacement camp in Phop Phra district, in Thailand’s southwestern Tak Province, which borders Myanmar’s Karen (Kayin) State. 

“We are only providing food that we have. They need food as well as clothes. Some displaced people could not bring clothes as they fled,” said a humanitarian aid worker. 

The KNLA and allied resistance forces seized Thay Baw Boe camp from the Myanmar military in Myawaddy District, near the Myawaddy-Falu Lay-Waw Lay road, on May 18. 

The military regime subsequently used choppers and fighter jets to carry out more than 30 airstrikes on the camp and Thay Baw Boe village, in fighting that lasted about eight hours. 

It has been difficult to transport food, shelter materials and clothes for displaced people because large numbers of junta troops are deployed along the Myawaddy-Waw Lay road, which links Myanmar and Thailand. 

“The regime has deployed large numbers of troops along the road. So it is difficult to send relief supplies to displaced people,” said a humanitarian worker. 

About 200 junta troops marched from Myawaddy to attack Thay Baw Boe village on May 19 morning. The regime also carried out five air strikes on Lay Kay Kaw, in which five houses were damaged. Military tensions are still running high between the Myanmar military and the KNLA in the area. 

“Around 200 junta troops are currently deployed near Falu Lay. Five houses were damaged as the regime dropped bombs on Lay Kay Kaw while junta troops were marching [to Thay Baw Boe]. Military tensions are running high now,” said an official of the allied resistance forces. 

The Karen State Border Guard Force has fought alongside the regime in clashes in the area. More than 10,000 Karen locals have been forced from their homes to the border due to the clashes along the Myawaddy-Lay Kay Kaw-Falu Lay-Waw Lay road in areas controlled by the Karen National Union’s Brigade 6.