More than 10,000 people displaced by clashes in Nawngping Sub-township, part of Kyaukme Township in northern Shan State, are in urgent need of medical and other assistance.
Fighting between the junta and a Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA)-led coalition, ongoing since August 19, has forced residents from more than 20 villages in Nawngping Sub-township to flee to the nearby Pongwoe, Hekwi, and Namhankeit village tracts.
Aid workers reported that more than 10,000 war-displaced people were in need of food, medicine, shelter, menstrual products, baby supplies, and other hygiene items.
“Right now, our main needs are food and medicine. We also urgently need mats and tarpaulin sheets. Many people had to flee suddenly, so they couldn’t bring bedding or blankets with them. The roads are currently closed, which makes it hard to buy what we need, and prices are rising. Regarding the military situation, we’ve heard that the junta has started moving from Nawngping toward Kyaukme Town and Sakhantha Village,” said a displaced woman.
On August 29, the junta announced that it had launched an offensive against TNLA-led resistance forces in villages of Nawngping Sub-township along Gotetwin Road and near the Goteik Viaduct from August 19 to 29, during which it engaged in 47 skirmishes and seized 23 weapons.
The junta is currently hastily repairing the blown-up Goteik Viaduct to continue its advance toward Kyaukme Town, while the TNLA-led coalition is preparing to hold out in Pintein village near Nawngping to block the junta’s advance.
As a result, residents of the central wards of the TNLA-controlled towns of Kyaukme and Thibaw (Hsipaw), along with villages along the region’s main highway, Union Road, are currently fleeing to Lashio, the largest city in northern Shan State.
On August 29, junta troops on the far side of the blown-up Goteik Viaduct opened artillery fire on villages near Kyaukme Town, killing 51-year-old U Soe Maung, a resident of Hkaiktonhuong in Naraikhkant Village Tract, Kyaukme Township.
On the same day, junta aircraft dropped four 250-pound bombs on Panthapyay Village, near TNLA-controlled Monglon Town in Kyaukme Township, killing a Buddhist nun and another woman, injuring six civilians, and damaging four houses along with several religious structures.
On the night of August 30, the junta’s air force dropped two 250-pound bombs on Narhkaw Village in Kyaukme Township, destroying four houses.
