In western Hpruso Township, Karenni State, an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp has been repeatedly attacked by junta forces using artillery, drones, and incendiary bombs. As a result of the daily attacks, the displaced civilians living in the camp no longer feel safe and have been forced to flee once again, according to the IDPs.
On March 12, junta forces fired artillery shells toward a location where the IDPs were preparing to relocate and build new shelters.
“We are now fleeing again, so we went to build new huts at another location. But the junta troops shelled that place with artillery. The shells did not directly hit the IDP shelters, but they are threatening us,” said one male IDP from the camp.
According to the displaced civilians, the area where they are preparing to move has been shelled daily as a form of intimidation. The attacks are carried out by a junta military column advancing from Hpruso toward Nanphe.
“The displaced people are fleeing again. The military used a drone to scout the place where we had stored some food supplies. Then they attacked it and fired artillery shells. I’m not sure if it was an incendiary bomb, but it caught fire,” another male IDP from the camp said.
On March 8, junta forces fired three artillery shells at the IDP camp, destroying food supplies stored by the displaced residents, including 15 sacks of paddy rice, 20 sacks of corn, and 50 sacks of peanuts.
Earlier, on March 5, junta forces also launched incendiary bombs near the same area. The attack damaged one IDP shelter and burned food supplies that the displaced civilians had stored.
