More than 10,000 civilians have been displaced in Dawei District of Tanintharyi Region due to intense fighting between revolutionary forces and the military council over the past ten days. Local residents have been forced to flee their homes due to the military council’s airstrikes and artillery attacks. Fighting has been particularly severe since the second week of April in eastern Dawei area, southern Yebyu Township, and around Mintha village in Yephyu Township.
In eastern Dawei Township, after the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and People’s Defense Forces captured the military council’s Htee Khee strategic base near the Thai border, the military council conducted airstrikes on Htee Khee and Taung Thone Lone villages. This has caused residents along the Dawei-Htee Khee road to flee. Over 2,000 ethnic Karen villagers from the Htee Khee area have sought refuge near the Thai border, while more than 5,000 people have been displaced from villages including Metta, Taung Thone Lone, Myaung Pyo, Kyauk Me Taung, Hindu Chaung, Khataungnee and Wakun villages in the eastern region alone, according to the Dawei Tanintharyi IDP Help Group.
In Yebyu Township, following an attack on the Win Wa police station, military council airstrikes have forced entire populations to flee from villages including Win Wa, Min Dat, Way Rit, Kamyaing, Nga Gyi, Kywe Min Kone, Kyauk Chamok and Thechaungtha. Parts of the populations from Sone Sin Phya, Yay Cho Chaung and Kone Nyin Seik villages have also been displaced. Between 3,000 to 5,000 people have been displaced in Yebyu Township alone within ten days. In Yephyu Township, intense fighting broke out when Mon, Karen and Dawei revolutionary forces attacked people’s militia in Mintha village, leading to artillery attacks by the military council that have displaced over 1,000 people around Mintha village area.
