Hundreds of civilians trapped as Myanmar junta bombards villages in Bago’s Htantabin Township

At least 500 civilians from three villages remain trapped in Bago Region’s Htantabin Township, while thousands more have been displaced amid heavy shelling and airstrikes conducted by regime forces, volunteers said. Many residents of the villages of Kin Mun Chon, Doe Tan, and Hnit Tant Ku are unable to leave their homes as evacuation efforts have been hindered by roadblocks, a volunteer from Taungoo District told Myanmar Now on Friday. “We can’t reach those villages unless we gain access to Za Yat Gyi,” the volunteer said. “There are no alternative routes available. Currently, we are waiting in the nearest village for permission to enter Za Yat Gyi.” Fierce fighting erupted in Htantabin Township on Wednesday when the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and allied resistance forces launched simultaneous attacks on the junta’s Light Infantry Battalion 72 about 10 miles from Za Yat Gyi. Several police stations in surrounding villages were also targeted. The KNLA has been fighting alongside troops from the People’s Defence Force, the armed wing of the shadow National Unity Government, and the Bamar People’s Liberation Army since the start of a joint offensive in the Sittaung River basin in Bago Region last December. The military responded to Wednesday’s attacks with heavy shelling and aerial assaults over residential areas, resulting in heavy civilian casualties and extensive damage to property in Za Yat Gyi, sources told Myanmar Now. A bridge spanning the Sittaung River was also reportedly destroyed. At least nine civilians, including three teenage girls, were killed and 50 others were injured by the regime’s attacks, residents and volunteers said. “They were just grade-11 students. They were my younger sister’s friends,” a displaced resident of Za Yat Gyi said, referring to the three girls, who died of their injuries on Thursday after being hit by shrapnel. Volunteers say they expect the death toll to rise once they are able to enter the affected area. “So far, we’ve only managed to retrieve one out of eight bodies in Za Yat Gyi. Entry to the village is still blocked,” a volunteer said. He added that his team has evacuated nearly 4,000 residents from Za Yat Gyi and surrounding villages since Tuesday, most of whom are now taking refuge in monasteries in Taungoo, a town about 20 miles to the north. At least 10 injured villagers were said to be in critical condition and receiving medical treatment in Taungoo’s hospital. Meanwhile, there were also reports on Friday that a junta column had entered the villages of Mar Lar Kone and Hpet Wun Kone, about two miles west of Za Yat Gyi. No further details were available at the time of reporting.

Hundreds of civilians trapped as Myanmar junta bombards villages in Bago’s Htantabin Township

Three teenage girls were among at least nine villagers killed over the past two days by the regime’s air and artillery assaults

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