Displaced families in Hsawng Pyaung village, Panglaung (Pinlaung) Township, are returning home under a cloud of uncertainty, caught between economic desperation and ongoing military constraints.

The village, strategically located on the Shan-Karenni (Kayah) border, became a battleground earlier this year as clashes erupted in March and May between Myanmar’s military council, the pro-junta Pa-O National Organization (PNO), and Karenni resistance forces. The violence forced hundreds to flee to nearby towns, including Samka and Nyaung Shwe, leaving behind homes and livelihoods.

By early July, two-thirds of the displaced villagers had returned, and without hope. “We couldn’t afford rent or food in other towns,” said a 30-year-old returnee who wished to remain anonymous. “But coming back doesn’t mean we feel safe.”

Despite the lull in fighting, military restrictions have paralyzed daily life. Farmers are barred from accessing fields near the border, leaving families without income or sustenance. “We’re back, but we’re still hiding,” the villager added. “We can’t work, we can’t leave, and we are trapped in our own homes.”

Fear of renewed violence looms large. Many returnees keep their belongings with relatives elsewhere, prepared to flee again at a moment’s notice. “We live ready to run,” he admitted.

The clashes left deep wounds: over 90 homes were burned, 40 more damaged by artillery, and a local school struck. Though villagers are repairing the school, its future remains uncertain. “We’re fixing it, but will children return?” asked a PNO soldier. “Many are studying elsewhere now. If fighting restarts, what then?”

While PNO forces have withdrawn, military council troops remain stationed in Hsawng Pyaung, a village of nearly 600 households that has endured repeated violence this year, including a devastating battle on March 21.

For now, the guns are silent, but the trauma endures. The people of Hsawng Pyaung remain ensnared in a cycle of fear, displacement, and precarious survival, with no clear path forward.