Burma Army (BA) offensives has driven hundreds of villagers from their homes in Kanpetlet Township in recent days.

According to an officer from the Kanpetlet Township People’s Administration, the Kanpetlet Chinland Defence Force (CDF) recently helped 600 people from five villages make it to safety in southern Chin State. The villagers fled their homes but had to run away again to another area with the help of the CDF.

The man told Khonumthung News when the BA suddenly withdrew from the No. 5 village-tract area, villagers from Apyine, Ngon Lawng, Ann Pon, Kyawt Taw and Chin Let Moon had to find another place to hide.

On 10 June, the regime’s troops captured CDF’s Vakok camp and remained there until CDF attacked them and forced them to retreat. The BA set fire to the camp before retreating.

A couple of days later, CDF fighters fought against the BA between Kyawt Taw and Ann Pon, killing at least 11 soldiers and wounding many others, according to their own accounts.

Since the fighting began with BA in the area on 9 June, over 2,000 villagers out of 11 villages have been affected by the violence, all of whom need emergency assistance.

“The IDPs are facing many difficulties during the rainy season and we’re appealing for donor support to provide them with humanitarian assistance such as food and dry rations, medicines, tarpaulins and plastic (for shelters),” he said.

More than 5,000 IDPs who fled the fighting are still living in the jungles of Kanpetlet Township.