The military council is reinforcing troops via air transport at the Pyusawthi camp in Inn Ma Htee village, Pale Township, Sagaing Region, forcing more than 25,000 local residents to flee into forests and mountains, according to Ko Zaw Htet, leader of the Pale Township People’s Administration Group. After People’s Defense Forces captured the Kan Daung police station in Pale Township on June 19, the military council has been deploying reinforcements to the Pale town police station and Inn Ma Htee village Pyusawthi camp using Y12 aircraft and support helicopters, preparing to launch counterattacks to retake the captured police station.
The military council has been continuously deploying troops using seven helicopters to Inn Ma Htee village and dropping supplies and soldiers by parachute from Y12 aircraft, even conducting night operations with illumination. Despite continuous reinforcements from June 19 to 24, they have been unable to advance further. During the clashes, the military council suffered casualties and lost weapons and ammunition, according to Ko Zaw Htet. Some retreating military council troops destroyed their weapons before withdrawing.
Due to the military council’s air operations, residents from 24 villages including Nyaung Yo, Thayat, Myay Ni Kone, Thanpawteik, Thayatkan, Suphatkone, Nyaungbinkone, Zaung Gyan Kone, Min Taing Pin, Kyaukphyakan, Sin Shin, Ohbo, Ainma, Koengtwin, Inkan, Letpukan, Ingyin Su, Ngapyawtaw, and Kyaw Thandi have been forced to seek shelter in forested areas. During this rainy season, displaced civilians are living in makeshift shelters with tarpaulins, facing severe difficulties with food, shelter and basic necessities. They are in urgent need of food supplies and proper shelter assistance.
During the period of fighting, military council airstrikes have killed at least 10 civilians – 6 from Sapaesae village, 1 from Min Taing Pin village, and 3 from Ngapyawtaw village. Currently, as the military council continues to conduct intimidation flights using fighter jets and Y12 aircraft both day and night, local residents are unable to return to their homes and must continue taking refuge in forested areas. The displaced civilians are facing significant hardships due to continuous rainfall while living in temporary shelters in the wilderness.
