At least three people are dead, including two children, after the military used fighter jets to attack two camps for internally displaced persons (IDP) in Hpruso Township, Karenni State.

One of the camps was empty, but the other was home to 200 people who had fled in “different directions” after the bombing, a man from Hpruso town who wished to remain anonymous told the Kantarawaddy Times.

Two girls aged 12 and 15 and a 52-year-old man were killed when four bombs were dropped at 1pm on Monday. It was the first time the junta used fighter jets to attack IDP camps in Karenni State. There were no clashes in the area at the time.

”The IDPs were from Mo So, near the place where the Burma Army (BA) murdered and burned more than 30 people on Christmas Eve.”

”There is no safe place for them. They are afraid of the next round of airstrikes,” another source told Kantarawaddy Times of those who have fled the recent bombardments and have nowhere to run. ”We just want the international community to protect them from the airstrikes from BA,” he said.

There are over 6,000 IDPs in Hpruso Township.

On 16 January, the regime attacked Nam Maekhong in western Demawso Township, where many IDPs have taken refuge. Three young male volunteers were killed in the attack.

Aung San Myint, spokesperson for the Karenni State Consultative Council, said more than 170,000 people have been displaced by airstrikes, shelling and ground attacks in the state.

Fighting has intensified in Loikaw and Demawso since this year, with the military using everything it has against resistance groups and civilians. At least 15 people have already been killed this month.

The regime must be held accountable ”for its crimes against humanity” said a member of Battalion 4 of the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force, which is fighting against the military.