Since fighting started on the Asia Highway in Karen State on 25 March, civilians have been unable to use the highway and have had to rely on smaller roads to get around.

The areas of the highway that are affected are from Myawaddy to Kawkareik and Kyone Doe in Karen State.

On 25 March defence force fighters led by the Karen Nationalities Liberation Army (KNLA) attacked military council posts on the Asia Highway in Myawaddy, Kawkareik, Kyon Doe, and Kyainseikgy.

According to the KNLA about 20 junta soldiers were killed in fighting near to the Myawaddy trading zone on 25 March.

By 26 March fighting had stopped in the vicinity of Myawaddy, but was continuing in Kawkareik and Kyon Doe.

A Myawaddy resident said to Mizzima: “There is still fighting in Kawkareik and Kyon Doe. Small cars can use small roads to get to Myawaddy Big cars and trucks cannot travel yet.”

According to reports both the Asia Highway and the old road from Myawaddy are blocked and locals are using the Hpa-An to Htilon to nabu Nabu routa and traveling to Myawaddy through Toh Kaw Koe Village. But, only small cars can use this route, it is not passable to trucks.

The White tiger Column, one of the defence forces involved in the fighting released a statement telling people to avoid travelling between Kawkareik, Kyon Doe and Myawaddy.