In the Inle region, situated in southern Shan State, the Military Council has heightened inspections and imposed restrictions on food deliveries, placing war-displaced individuals in a precarious situation for sustenance.
From November 30th onward, in Nampang village within Inle, the Military Council has increased inspections and engaged in extortion from pedestrians. The Junta has also prohibited the transportation of essential food items like rice, cooking oil, dry noodles, and beans, an aid worker helping the displaced people told Shan Herald.
"In Nampang, soldiers have increased checks. We can't bring donations for war-displaced people, and they checked our phones too. We left our food items at a monastery, brought them back by car because soldiers said no carrying food”, he explained.
In Nampang, the Pa-O National Organization (PNO) militia, in collaboration with the Military Council, is carrying out rigorous inspections, causing residents to suffer from and a sense of insecurity.
"They're conducting checks on the west bank of (Inle) Lake, too.When they inspected our cars, they warned against carrying rice bags. We explained they were for our home, and they reluctantly allowed us to continue with the rice bags”, an Inle resident told Shan Herald.
Similarly at checkpoints in Aungpan, Naungtayar, Pinlaung, and Hsawngpyaung, the Military Council and PNO militias obstructed the transportation of essential supplies, including food, clothes, tarpaulin sheets, and medicine.
Currently, Inle is facing a critical fuel shortage, compelling locals to travel to the gas station in Nyaungshwe for purchase. However these stations are limiting sales to only 10,000 MMK worth of fuel per person.
Amidst the ongoing conflicts in Karenni (Kayah) State, numerous residents have sought refuge in the homes of relatives and monasteries in Nyaungshwe, Pinlaung, Inle, and Sisai areas in southern Shan State since November 15th. Aid workers emphasize a pressing need for food and warm clothing to support these war-displaced individuals.
