Over 200 civilians uprooted by the conflict in Putao Township have returned to their homes to start planting paddy despite the fact that fighting between the regime and Kachin Independence Army (KIA) could break out at anytime.

The villagers, who were staying at an internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp in Myitkyina Township, returned to northern Kachin State last Friday in seven trucks, an IDP told NMG, asking for his name not be mentioned. He said most of the people are from Lon Shar Yang and Sumpyi Yang.

“We want to return to our homeland; it is difficult to live at the IDP camp, and we want to work on our farms,” he told NMG.

A Lon Shar Yang resident, also requesting anonymity, said: “'We don't feel safe, even though we're going back.”

Neither the Burma Army (BA) nor the KIA or any other organisation have advised the IDPs to return to their homes, and some IDPs have decided to remain in the Myitkyina camp for now.

The villagers fled their homes after BA clashed with KIA and the People's Defence Force near Lon Shar Yang, Sumpyi Yang, N'se Yang and Hpert Mar from February to March.

Some people who fled to the jungle have already returned home in late March with help from the Kachin Peace-talk Creation Group and Kachin volunteers and religious groups.

Fighting has been happening frequently between KIA and BA in Kachin State since the coup on 1 February, 2021.