Around 6,000 people have been forced to flee fighting in Mandalay Region’s Thabeikkyin Township since last month, as junta forces continue their offensive in the township after recapturing its administrative centre in July.
According to local sources, residents of villages east of the town of Thabeikkyin, including many who have already been displaced, are facing many hardships due to ongoing clashes in the area.
“Earlier this year, many fled to big cities like Mandalay. Now when fighting breaks out, they have to run from one village to another—that’s how they’re living,” said a local man, adding that many lack food, clothing, and shelter.
While the displaced have received some support from other locals, junta restrictions on the flow of goods into resistance-held areas have made it difficult to access many basic necessities, the man told Myanmar Now.
“People share whatever they have with each other. But it’s extremely difficult to get medical treatment at hospitals or clinics. Even with enough money, it’s not easy to get medicine due to transportation problems,” he said.
The latest to be displaced are residents of Zayat Kwin and Lan Lal Kyit, two villages located about seven miles southeast of Thabeikkyin, as fighting intensifies near Shwemhwechaung, a village just east of the town.
Thabeikkyin, a gold-mining town on the eastern bank of the Ayeyarwady River, was captured by resistance forces loyal to the National Unity Government in August of last year.
Regime forces regained control of the town in late July after a sustained air and ground offensive that began earlier in the month. Since then, the military has continued to push further east, according to the man.
“Due to drone strikes and heavy artillery fire, most people from around Zayat Kwin and Lan Lal Kyit have had to flee,” he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“The other day, heavy artillery fire killed two locals and wounded about eight others, so people couldn’t stay,” he added.
On August 20, heavy artillery fired from a nearby junta army camp landed in Zayat Kwin, injuring two displaced men sheltering at the village monastery.
A woman from Thabeikkyin who has been living in Mandalay since last year said that internet connectivity issues have made it difficult to contact family members who stayed behind.
“Some of the elderly didn’t want to leave their own areas and refused to evacuate. It is only possible to contact them occasionally, so I’m always worried about them,” she said.
“When they hear fighting, they run to the forest and then return. That’s all they can do to try to stay alive,” she added.
