Myanmar’s military has arrested seven workers from the Catholic Church's social arm Caritas (Karuna) who were on a mission to provide aid for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in conflict-stricken Kayah state, UCAnews reported.

A senior official from Loikaw Diocese that covers Kayah state said the soldiers made the arrests in Loikaw, the state’s capital, as the social workers carried food and medicines on Oct. 18.

He said church officials have been closely following up on the arrest of the charity workers and trying to gain their release.