About 8,600 people have been displaced by the ongoing conflict and the junta’s arbitrary attacks in Kyaukme Township, northern Shan State.
The junta, attempting to retake Kyaukme Town from the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), is conducting airstrikes, ground offensives and artillery shelling, sparking fierce clashes that have forced thousands of Kyaukme Township residents to flee, the Shan Human Rights Foundation (SHRF) reported on September 9.
"In Kyaukme Township, the junta's airstrikes and ground offensives have killed 29 civilians, most while taking refuge in monasteries, injured 66, and displaced around 8,600," the SHRF report said. These figures span a period of almost two weeks, between August 18 and 30.
Locals said that one of the areas hit hardest by the junta's shelling was the Nawngping Village Tract in Kyaukme Township.
Bombs and artillery shells exploded near oil and natural gas pipelines passing close to Nawngping Village and leading to China, nearly damaging the pipelines, the SHRF reported.
“These days, we see planes flying overhead every day. Around Nawngping, there’s hardly any sound at all. The streets of Kyaukme Town are empty, too. People in the villages aren’t coming out of their homes. Many have already evacuated, and those who haven’t are staying inside. Everyone is on high alert. Even the markets are deserted,” a local told NMG.
Junta troops advancing from Naungcho (Nawnghkio) Township in northern Shan State claim their operation aims to neutralize TNLA positions along the Muse-Mandalay Highway, the SHRF reported.
A resident of Kyaukme described three consecutive days of airstrikes carried out by the junta in the town.
“Early this (September 8) morning, around 1 am, junta aircraft bombed Loihkaw Ward in Kyaukme Town. It had carried out similar airstrikes on September 6 and 7. Some houses in Myaukkone Village were damaged, but thankfully, no one was hurt,” he said.
Around 8,600 residents who fled Kyaukme Township are now in southern Shan State, seeking refuge in areas controlled by the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA).
Humanitarian workers assisting the displaced people said they are in urgent need of food, water, medicine, and other essential aid.
