Hpapun, February (18)
In the two years since the military coup, almost 500,000 people have fled the violence and the junta’s abuses of human rights in Karen National Union (KNU) territory, said Padoh Saw Taw Nee, the spokesperson of the KNU.
Regime troops have been carrying out artillery fire and airstrikes targeting the civilians in KNU-held areas, and human rights violations are getting worse day by day.
The number of displaced persons has increased as a result of the military council’s targeted attacks on civilians, and the situation might get worse, according to Pado Saw Taw Nee, a spokesman for the KNU.
Since the military coup, nearly 8,000 battles have taken place between regime forces and the resistance forces – the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the Karen National Defense Organization (KNDO), the PDF joint forces.
The aid workers said that there is an urgent need for supplies such as medicine, food, shelter, and other items for the increasing number of IDPs.
Pado Saw Taw Nee added, “emergency aid is urgently needed for the people fleeing the conflict. There may be at least two million refugees nationwide”.
According to KNU’s statement, in January 2023, about 17 civilians were killed and nearly 50 were injured by heavy weapon fire, air strikes, and human rights violations by the junta army, and the number of civilian deaths and injuries has increased more than in previous months.
In the KNU-held region, the military conflict between the junta army and the allied revolutionary forces has gotten worse, and the regime has stepped up its airstrikes.
News-Than Lwin Times