Amid intense fighting between resistance forces and the military junta in Bawlakhe, a town in Karenni State, local sources report that around 100 civilians remain in the conflict zone.

Although resistance groups had issued warnings and encouraged local residents to evacuate prior to the start of hostilities, many were unable or unwilling to leave, according to a resident of Bawlakhe.

“It’s hard to say exactly what those who stayed behind were thinking. No matter how much they were urged to leave, they didn’t come out. Despite repeated calls to evacuate, many didn’t leave. Some left after the warnings were issued, and a few more managed to escape just before the fighting began. But now that clashes have erupted, around 100 people still remain in the town” said a local resident.

He added that those who are still in the town were not trapped by the fighting but chose to stay of their own accord.

Another resident, a woman in her mid-20s, noted that while some families attempted to persuade their relatives to evacuate, there are still individuals who refused to leave.

“Our family left after the evacuation notice. Those who remained behind say their relatives have tried their best to convince them to leave. But there are still people who absolutely refuse to go. And now, even if they want to leave, I don’t know if they can anymore. No one knows the current situation on the ground,” she said.

On February 2, the combined resistance forces issued an official statement urging all civilians in Bawlakhe to evacuate within ten days. While the majority of the population has since fled to safer areas, a small number of civilians continue to stay in the town.

Details regarding the current situation in Bawlakhe remain unclear. However, on March 21, KNDF Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Mar Wi posted on his official Facebook page that resistance forces had seized military equipment and ammunition along with caputred soldiers.