Intensified clashes between the Myanmar military council, the Pa-O National Organization (PNO) militia, and revolutionary forces in Panglong (ပၢင်လွင်း-Pin Paung) Township, Shan State, have forced more than 1,000 households to flee their homes, leaving them in urgent need of shelter, food, and humanitarian aid.

The fighting, which escalated on May 17 in Hsawng Pyaung village, has displaced approximately 1,000 villagers, many of whom have sought refuge in nearby towns, including Panglong, War Lee, Pin Khun, and Nang Tar, according to displaced residents who spoke with SHAN.

With no official registration system in place, the exact number of displaced individuals remains uncertain. Many have taken shelter in monasteries or with relatives, while others have resorted to makeshift tents near neighboring villages.

“There are around 1,000 households, so estimating the total population is difficult,” one displaced villager said. “Some are staying in monasteries, others with family. I’ve been sleeping wherever I can find space, there’s no permanent shelter yet.”

Another local resident highlighted the immediate humanitarian crisis: “People fled in panic early in the morning, carrying only the clothes on their backs. Food is now the most critical need. Most arrived with nothing, and after just three days, the situation remains unstable.”

As of now, no formal assistance has reached the displaced families, leaving them without reliable access to food or shelter.

Hsawng Pyaung, a major village located 25 miles from Panglong and 11 miles west of Pai Khun (Pekon), has been heavily affected. Reports confirm that local homes were set ablaze amid the clashes on May 18.

This marks the second mass displacement in the region within a year. In September 2024, fierce fighting involving the military council, PNO militia, and the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) uprooted residents from multiple villages, including Naung Wo, Loi Kaing, Ho Wo, Song Myaing, Saw Lan, Nam Pha Mu, and Wan Mai.

With no immediate resolution to the conflict, displaced families remain in precarious conditions, underscoring the urgent need for coordinated aid efforts. Local sources stress that without intervention, the crisis will worsen.