Military Council troops conducting a combat operation in the eastern part of Demoso township since March 9 th has forced over 3,000 residents in to flee as fighting escalates between the Military Council troops and the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) and the Karenni Army (KA).

“Since last night people are still leaving. It’s almost empty now. Only a few people have not left.. If we put them all together, there may be three thousand or more,”said Ko Banyar, director of the Karenni Human Rights Group, to Kantarawaddy Times.

On March 9, the Military Council troops launched a combat operation from Bawlakhe, engaging in a battle with the Karenni Army (KA) and the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) in the eastern part of Demoso Township in Karenni State. Another battle is taking place with the offensive column advancing from 6 miles away from Demoso township.

According to local residents, the Military Council troops have been relentlessly firing artillery shells on a daily basis. Reconnaissance planes have also been spotted flying overhead each day.

“ In the past one or two days, a column has been observed advancing from Bawlakhe. Furthermore, this morning, troops were spotted approaching from the upper side of Demoso, near the Seven Stages Lake. It appears that the Military Council aims to encircle the eastern side of Demoso and then clear the area,” stated the anti -coup Minister of Interior Khu Nye Reh.

“With the sudden need to flee, people are taking whatever essentials they can carry with them, such as some rice, oil, and salt. However the shortage of medical supplies and personnel is a grave concern. The scarcity of resources in this regard has been a problem from the outset, and now as they flee under the sweltering sun through the forests and mountains, medical assistance is a critical requirement. In addition, there is a pressing demand for makeshift shelters,” Ko Banyar added.

The population of refugees in the eastern region of Demoso has now surged to 15,000.