Tens of thousands flee raids by Myanmar regime forces near Kalay

Residents of more than 30 villages have been displaced over the past week by a regime offensive targeting areas near the town of Kalay in Sagaing Region, according to local sources. Junta columns consisting of hundreds of troops began raiding villages along the Kalay-Gangaw road on October 27, the sources said, noting that arson attacks have been carried out in at least five of the affected villages. As a result, an estimated 50,000 civilians have been forced to flee their homes, local relief workers told Myanmar Now. “Everyone is sheltering wherever they can, spreading tarps on the ground. As recent arrivals, they’re setting up temporary tents, but finding adequate shelter remains difficult,” said a local man assisting the displaced villagers. Among the displaced civilians are thousands of children and elderly people, many of whom are in need of medicine, basic food supplies, and shelter assistance, he added. “They’re sheltering in nearby forests and mountains. Since they’re getting rained on, there are more illnesses,” said another local involved in the relief effort. According to a local resistance fighter, the junta soldiers have been indiscriminately burning down houses in a number of villages, but in some places have targeted certain homes. “They torched quite a lot of houses in Kyunchaung, where they selectively burned those connected with resistance forces, unlike in other villages like Natchaung and Natmyaung,” he said. At least two other villages—Chaunggwa and Harkharlay—were also reportedly subjected to arson attacks. Because junta forces are currently stationed in all five villages, the extent of the damage could not be confirmed at the time of reporting. Two columns—one stationed in Kalay and another based in Gangaw to the south—are involved in carrying out the raids, resistance sources said. Meanwhile, the junta has also been conducting another offensive in the area since early October, resulting in the loss of a number of resistance positions along the India-Myanmar Friendship Road, which links Kalay to Tamu, some 80 miles to the north. There are also reports of another column advancing west from Kalay toward Chin State’s Tedim Township. The column of about 200 troops was first sighted on the Kalay-Tedim road in the third week of October and is currently at Mualpi, a village in Tedim Township, according to a member of a Chin resistance group. The column is the latest to attempt to retake the strategically important village of Taingen, which was captured by resistance forces in January 2024. “There were clashes on the first day, but none after that. They haven’t reached Taingen yet—they still need to go about one or two more villages. Based on their movements, we see that they intend to try to retake Taingen, which is at the junction of the roads to Tedim and Falam,” said the Chin resistance fighter. Myanmar’s military junta has intensified its efforts to reclaim territory ahead of elections that it plans to hold at the end of this year, with the first phase slated to take place on December 28. Since seizing power nearly five years ago, the regime has faced resistance from an array of armed groups around the country. According to United Nations estimates, the conflict has displaced nearly 3.6 million people, fuelling a growing humanitarian crisis.

Tens of thousands flee raids by Myanmar regime forces near Kalay

The displaced are residents of at least 30 villages targeted by two junta columns over the past week, sources said

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