10,000 flee as Myanmar junta forces torch villages in Natogyi Township

Myanmar’s military has torched at least 12 villages in northern Natogyi Township, Mandalay Region, forcing around 10,000 residents to flee as junta troops advance from village to village. Natogyi Township—located some 40 miles southwest of the city of Mandalay, in an area with a strong resistance presence—has come under intense pressure from the regime in recent months. The township was not included in elections that concluded last month. Since the beginning of February, junta columns have pushed into the northern part of the township, carrying out drone strikes and arson attacks on one village after another. The troops moved along the border between Natogyi and Ngazun township, targeting the villages of Myawaddy, Kyar Twin, Taw Zauk, Say Khin Gyi, Kan Gyi, Hpaung Kyin, Ba Het, Taw Way, Wet Lu, Aung Chan Thar, Myet Shu, and Thar Si, sources said. Homes were set ablaze and property looted, according to a Myawaddy resident who spoke on condition of anonymity. “It was like they were preying on the weak, just because they were armed,” he said. “They forced their way into houses by breaking locks or smashing holes in walls, taking whatever they wanted before setting the houses on fire. They dismantled and stole oil presses and chaff cutters used to chop hay for cows. In short, they took anything of value—or anything they liked.” He said most of the affected villages have at least 1,000 residents. Many have fled to forests, monasteries, neighbouring villages, and cities where they have relatives. “We had to flee and sell our cows. Many of our cows and pigs were killed,” he added. “We’re sheltering wherever we can, including monasteries. When things calm down and we can return, we may have to build makeshift shelters with tarpaulins if we can’t rebuild our homes.” Residents said junta troops advanced in three columns, each with hundreds of soldiers, reportedly expecting resistance fighters to be based in the villages. A clash occurred near Myawaddy last week. A humanitarian aid worker from the Natogyi Township People’s Administration Team said troops advancing from the town of Natogyi and two villages to the north—Wet Lu and Myo Thar in Ngazun Township—have been surrounding and entering villages, often launching heavy drone strikes beforehand. While some civilians and livestock were injured, most residents managed to flee after receiving advance warnings of the troops’ approach, he said. However, with soldiers systematically burning homes, many have been left homeless. “Displaced people urgently need assistance,” he said. “Many villages have been burned and residents cannot return. Whenever the column approaches, they have to move again. Constant displacement is exhausting, and cooking food immediately after relocating is extremely difficult. They are in dire straits.” He added that the column reportedly carried out drone strikes on the villages of Ba Het, Na Bu Taw, and Yone Yin Taw early Tuesday morning. Resistance forces control most of the area within the triangle formed by the towns of Myingyan, Natogyi, and Taungtha, east of the Ayeyarwady River. In August 2024, anti-junta groups launched the Myingyan District Special Operation, targeting police stations and military sites in the area. The Natogyi People’s Defence Force also advanced onto the Yangon–Mandalay Highway, frequently ambushing junta troops.

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