Civilians displaced by Tatmadaw offensives and daily fighting with Karenni resistance forces in Demawso Township only have enough food rations for two more weeks.

A man helping internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the east Demawso Township said most of the clashes are taking place along the road, which is also the only way to get food to the camps.

Burma Army (BA) soldiers shoot at anyone they see and arrest others, he explained, which has made it almost impossible to bring the IDPs the food and supplies they need.

”Since the beginning of September, BA has blocked all roads to Demawso Township and at the same time there’s fighting in the villages of Dor Ngan Hkar, Kong Tha and Thay Hsule, through which we used to pass to deliver food,” the man told Kantarawaddy Times. At the moment, the IDPs are sharing what’s left while they look for a new route to bring the relief supplies to the camps.

According to Banyar, the director of Karenni Human Rights Organisation (KHRO), the rainy and cold weather has created additional difficulties for the IDPs, who lack blankets, warm clothes, tarps and plastic sheets.

“The heavy rains started on 24 September in Demawso Township. It’s raining every day… The weather is really cold and the children need warm clothes,” he said. They also need mosquito nets, food and medicine.

Last Thursday (23 September) Tatmadaw troops battled Karenni Army (KA) and Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF) near Kong Tha and Thay Hsule in the eastern township. In the evening, about 5000 civilians from 15 villages fled the clashes.

In the west, according to a volunteer, there are about 6,000 IDPs who have food for the next two months but lack dry goods due to travel restrictions.

According to KHRO, more than 130,000 people have been displaced by the fighting since the coup eight months ago.