More than 500 children were among thousands of people displaced by fighting in Moebye Township, southern Shan State, and food and medicine are needed for them, according to aid workers.

Fighting between junta troops and anti-regime groups led by the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF) has recently uprooted at least 5,000 people in Moebye town and nearby villages, and over 500 children are among the displaced people.

“We cannot provide enough food for the displaced people due to ongoing fighting. We need more relief items for the IDP children,” said one aid worker.

There is an urgent need for aid due to a shortage of medicines for diarrhoea and influenza outbreaks among children in the late rainy season.

“As the rainy season is almost over, the children have diarrhoea and flu. Medicines are needed to treat children fleeing the war. Therefore, I would like to ask donors to help donate medicines in an emergency,” the aid worker added.

Charities are also struggling in providing relief items to displacement camps as junta troops have tightened security checks on travellers and locals along the Moebye-Pekhon-Loikaw road, aid workers said.

“We are facing difficulties transporting the necessary food and medicine to displacement camps due to the military’s travel restrictions. When it comes to donating money, we have to be careful, and ask for help,” another aid worker told DMG.

Thousands of locals in Moebye Township have fled fierce clashes between the military and anti- regime forces from September 8-23.