Persistent fighting between the Military Council and resistance forces along the border between Shan and Karenni states has blocked the major roads and obstructed aid workers from delivering food to the many people displaced by the war.
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Since 6 August, daily clashes have been occurring between Mobye and Loikaw. Battalion 2 of the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force, one of the main armed groups battling the regime’s forces, has warned civilians to avoid the main highways as fighting can flare up at anytime.
A member of the Pekon IDP (internally displaced person) Committee said they used to send donations from private donors along the Mobye Road. Now that it’s closed, they are using lesser roads, some of which pass through Pa-O National Organization’s checkpoints. Since the group transformed into a Border Guard Force to serve under the regime, its soldiers won’t allow food and medicines to pass through their controlled territories.
“There are many of PNO’s checkpoints on the road. They demand about 25 cents per motorcycle at a checkpoint. If we carry petroleum, they also take money for this and they do not allow any rice to pass through their checkpoint,” he said. Volunteers are forced to find other routes to bring food to the people.
The man said the World Food Programme provides some assistance, but its not enough. In the conflict zones, its mainly private donations reaching those in need. However, people have been sending food to Mobye and not Pekon, he said, explaining that it’s been a month since Pekon families received a basket of rice.
With the war escalating and the Military Council blocking roads between the two states, the cost of a bag of rice has risen to $40.
One male IDP said they can grow their vegetables, but they need regular deliveries of rice and oil, which haven’t arrived yet with the focus being on Mobye.
There are 6,000 IDPs in Pekon Township who need 200 bags to survive every month.
Last week, the Mobye People’s Defence Force Battalion 1001 asked for the people’s continued support as they ramped up war efforts against the Military Council.
