displacement

The fighting took place in the mountains between Kawkariek and Myawaddy near a Karen National Union controlled area. At least nine Burma Army soldiers, including a battalion commander and a company commander were killed and 13 others wounded in the fighting, according to sources from the local KNLA. A KNLA officer spoke to Karen News about the fighting. “Our troops…

The KNU statement was released following Burma Army shelling of villages that has now displaced an estimated 10,000 civilians this week. The KNU said the recent fighting that took place on 15th December was a result of its self-defense against “Myanmar military council’s arrest of individuals temporarily sheltering at Lay Kay Kaw, destruction of their homes, and deployment of military…

Local community organizations, responding to the emergency needs of the displaced people, estimate 2,000 residents from Lay Kaw Kaw and another 2,000 villagers from nearby villages such as Htee Meh Wah Khee, Yathit Gu, P’Hee Klaw, Maw Toh Talay fled their homes to seek safety. A community worker, helping the displaced villagers, told Karen News. “The fighting in the Lay…

The mountain areas of Northern Karen State can get cold, close to freezing in high places once the cold weather sets in. When the Burma Army attacked their villages people fled with only what they could carry –cooking pots, food stores or blankets or clothing were left behind. The villagers are now in urgent need of warm clothes and medicines.…

Despite the Burma Army’s declaration of a five-month unilateral ceasefire from October, 2021 to February 2022, villagers have yet to witness a reduction in its troops in the area or less fighting. Community based groups and Karen National Union (KNU) sources told Karen News Burma Army instead of reducing their numbers in the area, have been sending reinforcements to the…

Debbie Stothard, the founder and coordinator of Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma (ALTSEAN-BURMA), has advocated for more than 25 years to support human rights, democracy and peace in Burma. In an exclusive interview with Karen News, Debbie explains why it is now critically important for Burma’s neighbors to allow cross border aid to an estimated 200,000 displaced people and another…

By Conor Phelan* KPSN filmed footage of villages destroyed by airstrikes – schools, buildings and houses have been flattened, with many homes riddled with bullet holes, caused by Burma military helicopters. The Burma Army released statements stating the airstrikes were a response to the Karen National Liberation Army’s (KNLA) seizure of a military outpost in the Mutraw district. According to…

By Conor Phelan* A health worker, Saw Doe Doh, told Karen News the wet season is adding to the already serious health risks displaced villagers are facing, especially with an increase in malaria, dengue fever and diarrhoea cases. The wet season also adds to the difficulties displaced villagers have to face flooded rivers are dangerous to cross and travelling by…

Naw Nang Thazin, a health care provider looking after IDPs told Karen News that building shelter is critical as the wet season has placed many of the displaced villagers at risk. “There are 4,000 refugees and as they are not settled in one place like before it has made it difficult to arrange shelters for them. A local Abbot has…

The numbers of displaced Kachin villagers driven from their villages by the Burma Army is now estimated by community based organizations to be more than 100,000. To add to the difficulties of caring for the displaced villagers, Kachin community-based-organizations said they have had to deal with government policy and its military, blocking the delivery of humanitarian aid. A statement released…