Kyaukme, Northern Shan State – Daily life in Kyaukme has ground to a halt as relentless airstrikes by Myanmar’s military regime, the State Administrative Council (SAC), force residents to flee en masse. Once bustling with activity, the town now falls into a tense silence by midday, with nearly all shops shuttered and streets deserted.

The SAC has launched at least three airstrikes on Kyaukme since late June, targeting areas under the control of the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA). The attacks have left five civilians dead and at least 21 injured, prompting hundreds to flee to nearby villages like Taungchay, located near the Upper Yeywa Hydropower Plant.

“I had to flee to Taungchay yesterday. I was too afraid to stay,” a displaced woman told SHAN. “The children are terrified. No one wants to leave their home, but we had no choice.”

She described the eerie transformation of the town: “Kyaukme is active only in the mornings. By noon, it’s like a ghost town. Shops are closed, and everyone is hiding. We don’t know when the next bomb will fall.”

Displaced families are struggling with basic needs. Many left with little more than a bag of rice or a few belongings. “I brought five ‘pyi’ [about 9.2 kilograms] of rice, but my stove broke. Food is getting harder to find,” the woman said. “I’m counting every kyat. The wealthy fled first. Now, even the rest of us are leaving.”

The military’s June airstrikes severely damaged civilian infrastructure, including the area surrounding Kan Baw Za Shan Monastery.

A soldier from the Danu People’s Liberation Army (DPLA) confirmed that SAC forces are escalating their operations with coordinated air and ground assaults in Kyaukme, Nawnghkio, and Hsipaw. Drones are reportedly being used to guide precision strikes.

“They’re hitting Nawnghkio hard, and bombing Kyaukme and Hsipaw almost every day,” the DPLA soldier told SHAN. “It seems like they’re trying to gain leverage before the next round of negotiations.”

On July 4, SAC warplanes bombed a hospital and an agricultural site in Hsipaw, destroying eight homes. Though no casualties were reported in that incident, residents say the psychological toll is mounting.

The TNLA currently controls 12 towns across northern Shan State. During April’s negotiations, SAC demanded control of five key towns: Nawnghkio, Kyaukme, Hsipaw, Mogok, and Momeik. Talks ended without agreement. A new round of negotiations, with China acting as mediator, is expected in August.