Residents of Shahtu Zup village located near where recent fighting between the Burma Army and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has broken out are struggling to survive.
One villager, who for security reasons preferred to remain anonymous, said the fighting in Hpakant Township, Kachin State, which started at the end of July, has severely restricted their mobility, making it nearly impossible to earn a livelihood.
“Everything has become difficult. Most of the residents work on the farms (and plantations). Government soldiers are camped on the farms and plantations. We haven’t finished farming yet, but they have blocked the paths to the farms with bamboo poles. We are also afraid of mines and being arrested,” the villager said, explaining that four men that tried to work their farms were arrested by the Burma Army.
Other reports of indiscriminate arrests by the Burma Army have emerged of residents travelling to nearby villages Moe Kaung Chaung, Namsam Chaung, and Khaw Law Chaung.
The KIA has issued warnings to avoid travel within the conflict zones where the Burma Army is allegedly launching daily offensives.
Lt-Col Naw Bu, information officer of the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO); the political wing of the KIA, told NMG that as far as he knows the Burma Army haven’t reinforced their positions but that fighting isn’t likely to stop soon because they also haven’t retreated from KIA positions.
About 500 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are reported to be taking refuge in churches and Buddhist monasteries in Shahtu Zup where they are receiving some aid from the government, Union Peace and Solidarity Party, the Kachin Baptist Convention, and Bhamo-based Solidarités International.
An anonymous IDP cautioned that the support they have received won’t last long if the fighting keeps up.
“It’s very difficult for us. The food supplies won’t last longer than a month,” the IDP said.
Reporting by NMG
Translated by Thida Linn
Edited by BNI staff
