Over one hundred villagers uprooted from their homes by fighting between armed groups in northern Shan State during the harvest period in early December are still unable to return to their villages.
Nang Kham Aye, a MP for Namtu Township, told SHAN while some internally displaced persons (IDPs) have been able to go home, others have not. They’re staying at a Buddhist monastery in Man San village. Others are sleeping at a monastery at Pan Chin.
Some IDPs tried to return on December 17, but fighting between the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) broke out hours after their arrival and they were forced to leave.
Fighting stopped after Ta’ang troops withdrew from the area, said RCSS spokesperson Maj Kham San. But he explained that TNLA is trying to retake the area, which is why IDPs are afraid to return home.
“When there aren’t any clashes, we can go back to our village. But when it starts, we have to flee again. We can’t predict what will happen!” said an IDP. After hearing that both armed groups have been sending reinforcements to the area, he’s worried when the conflict will end.
At least four civilians, including a pregnant woman, were injured from fighting between the ethnic armed groups in Namtu Township, which began on December 9.
