Clashes continue to break out near KIA’s Battalion 3 area at China-Burma border and the IDPs and local residents have to flee a number of times and are still facing various difficulties now.

“The important thing is a safe place. There are several requirements. [The IDPs] from Zai Awng [IDP camp] had to flee from the original campsite. Nutrients and health cares are indispensable. The children haven’t been able to go to school for a month now. The major requirement is a safe location for them (the IDPs). Zai Awng alone has around 2,600 IDPs. There are around 7,000 IDPs if you also add the ones from Hkau Shau and Ma Gar Yang [IDP camps],” explained Ko Gum Shar Awng, secretary of the Joint Strategy Team, which has been providing assistance to Kachin IDPs.

IDPs fled into China’s territory in early Wednesday morning but China refused to accept them, according to Tuu San Aung, a pastor from Summa Zone and an IDP from Zai Awng IDP camp.

“We heard the sound of gunfire from smaller weapons, not heavy gun. This means they (the Burma Army and the KIA) are getting closer. So, we had to flee to the other side of the shore at around 3 or 4 am. We fled to China’s side for a short period. Now, we came back. They (China) didn’t allow us to stay,” he said.

“We are currently living under tarpaulin [tents]. The place is four or five miles from Zai Awng. It’s a new place. We haven’t named it yet. We have only moved here recently. Now, we had to flee again. First, we fled from Zai Awng camp and stayed on the road. Then, we came here but we have to flee again. It won’t be convenient for us in the longer run. We don’t know when we can go back. We can’t estimate,” the secretary of Zai Awng IDP camp said as he explained the difficulties being faced by the IDPs.

Fighting broke out near the area controlled by KIA’s Battalion 3 under Brigade 1 in Waingmaw Township of Kachin State. The fighting has been continued since mid-December and up to today, according to IDPs and local residents.

The Burma Army has been attacking KIA outposts with both ground offensives and airborne attacks.

On 11 January, nine civil society organisations that have been assisting Kachin IDPs have demanded the Burmese government, the Burma Army, and ethnic armed groups to halt the clashes and offensives in the Kachin State.

“Five shells fell in Zai Awng IDP camp last week. So, the IDPs had to run away again. Fighting has become more intense in the area so they had to run into China last night. The Chinese authority and the police investigated them and forced them back to Burma. The public are suffered furthermost from the severe clashes. The on-going offensives need to be stopped,” said Ko Gum Shar Awng.

Since mid-December, the Burma Army has been taking over KIA’s strategic outposts: Gidon, Lai Hpawng and nearby smaller outposts.

Civil society organizations that have been assisting IDPs estimate that over 100,000 people have been forced to flee their homes since fighting resumed in the Kachin State in 2011.

Translated by Thida Linn