A civilian was injured during intense clashes between ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) in northern Shan State that resulted in 60 homes and a Buddhist pagoda being damaged by shells and bullets.

According to a civilian, about a third of the homes in Taw Sang village were damaged during hostilities between the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS/SSA) and Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA). Five homes in the village in Kyaukme Township were completely destroyed during the violence.

Over 100 civilians fled to a Buddhist monastery in Ohm Ngar. Volunteers brought the displaced civilians to a makeshift camp in the town of Kyaukme this Thursday, January 7. 

Tin Maung Thein, from Ziwita Social volunteer team, based in Kyaukme Township, told SHAN that although they were safe in village where they fled from the fighting, they didn’t have food.

Violence between EAOs that resumed at the beginning of December has already displaced over a thousand villagers. A villager was killed and another wounded after a shell hit a home in Namtu Township on January 5. At least three women, including a pregnant woman, and a male teenager were wounded during clashes on December 10.

The RCSS started fighting with TNLA in northern Shan State soon after signing the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) with the government and Burma Army in late 2015. 

Although the TNLA is not a signatory to the NCA, the EAO was invited by the government to meet for peace negotiations this month, along with other member groups from the Northern Alliance.