Border sources confirm that civilians are fleeing to Thailand as the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and allied forces prepare to launch offensives against the Thaybawboe military camp and other military council positions along the Thai-Myanmar border in Karen State. Starting from the morning of May 27, KNLA allied forces began preparations to attack military council camps in the Thaybawboe, Hpaungtawsaing, and Wawlay areas within Myawaddy District, causing local residents to cross the Thaungyin River to seek refuge in Thai villages including Mae Li Chain, Phop Phra, and Sa-oe.
According to a border source, fighting has reached close to Thaybawboe and Hpaungtawsaing areas, with the military council conducting drone strikes, sniper attacks, and artillery bombardments, making it impossible for civilians to remain in their homes. People are fleeing to relatives in Mae Li Chain area, while residents from Taungnyo area have already escaped to Umphang and Phop Phra regions. The situation has become increasingly dangerous for local residents as military operations intensify in the border areas.
Following the capture of the military council’s Balaydoe camp by KNLA allied forces on May 23, they have maintained blockades around the Thaybawboe, Hpaungtawsaing, and Ukayittha military camps. Civilians are evacuating to Thailand in anticipation of intense battles between the two forces. The Thai military has implemented 24-hour security patrols along the Thai-Myanmar border and maintains combat readiness for emergency situations. The border area has seen a significant increase in military tensions as fighting continues to escalate.
Currently, ongoing clashes between the military council forces and KNLA allied forces persist throughout Karen State, including in Myawaddy, Three Pagodas Pass, Kawkareik, Kyondoe, Papun, and Thaton regions. Local residents have been forced to abandon their homes and possessions to seek safety, as military tensions continue to escalate along the border areas. The humanitarian situation remains critical as more civilians are displaced by the expanding conflict, with border sources reporting increasingly frequent clashes and military movements in the region.
