Nearly half of the conflict-affected civilians in Karenni State and southern Shan State live in Demawso Township.

According to Karenni Civil Society Network (KCSN), of the 120,449 internally displaced persons (IDPs) affected by the Burma Army (BA) offensives and fighting with the combined Karenni Army (KA) and civilian resistance forces, 55,265 are in Demawso Township, located in Karenni State.

“As the Burma Army continues to conduct military operations in Karenni State, the IDPs face many hardships. Some have to keep moving from place to place to escape the offensives,” Khu Ruby, KCSN assistant coordinator, told Kantarawaddy Times. He explained that there are many children and some of the women are pregnant and no one has much food, medicine and shelter.

The conflict between BA and Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) has displaced 69 percent of Demawso Township’s 80,000 residents since May 21, when it began.

According to an August 17 report by KCSN, 82 people have been killed, 106 injured and 150 arrested in Karenni State and Pekhon Township, southern Shan State, since the February 1 coup. There were 222 buildings and houses destroyed, including 167 in Demawso Township.

From August 2 to 15, there were 674 new IDPs. On August 14, the military arrested civilians to use as human shields during fighting with KA and KNDF in eastern Demawso Township.