More than 2,700 civilians from the Kyaikto Township area in Mon State have been forced to flee their homes due to ongoing artillery and air attacks by junta forces, according to the Karen National Union (KNU) Thaton District.
The displaced residents are primarily from villages within the Win Kan Village Tract, where the junta’s LIB-310 has been firing heavy artillery and conducting airstrikes in recent days. On May 14 alone, between 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., junta forces reportedly launched seven 120-mm artillery shells into nearby villages, the KNU said in a statement.
Similarly, in Sinywar village of Waw Township, Bago Region, regime troops fired four 122-mm shells. Later that day, junta jet fighters carried out aerial bombing raids in Shwegyin Township and in the Kyaikto Township’s Kyaukphyar Village Tract.
The KNU also reported that, even on May 13 when no clashes occurred, the junta’s LIB-310 still fired three 122-mm rounds.
As a result of the repeated artillery shelling and airstrikes, over 650 households from six villages, Win Kan, Bawkata, Kyauk Yae Twin, Kalaw Myaung, Shan Su, and Anyar Su, have been displaced. More than 2,700 people have fled their homes to seek safety elsewhere.
The KNU accused the junta of deliberately targeting civilian areas, forcing residents to abandon their homes amid fears for their safety. Displaced families are now in urgent need of shelter, food supplies, and medical assistance, according to the KNU’s Thaton District office.
