By Min AB / MPA
Nearly 15,000 civilians have been forced to flee their homes in Mon State’s Kyaikto Township as heavy fighting between the Myanmar military and resistance forces enters its tenth day, aid workers and rebel commanders say.
The offensive began on February 9 when junta troops pushed into territory controlled by the Karen National Union (KNU). According to Ko Aye Min Tun, a commander from the local People’s Defence Force (PDF), the combat has evolved from hit-and-run skirmishes into intense, head-on clashes, particularly around the town of Theinzayat.
Residents and the KNU have accused the military of grave human rights abuses during the advance. Reports indicate that at least four elderly civilians have been killed by junta forces, including a couple in their 60s from Sit Kwin village. Several others, including a teenager, have been wounded by heavy artillery fire.
“We’ve lost contact with many villagers hiding in the forest,” a displaced resident from Alu Lay village told MPA. “The soldiers are stationed inside the villages. They tell people it’s safe to return, but then they threaten to burn down every house if we don’t come back. Nobody dares to go.”
The KNU central headquarters issued a statement accusing junta troops of systematic looting, claiming soldiers have broken into homes to steal cash, mobile phones, and at least 15 motorcycles before setting fire to several properties.
The displaced population—estimated at nearly 15,000 from 20 different villages—is currently scattered across makeshift camps in the forests, orchards along the Bago border, and the homes of relatives.
Aid volunteers warn that the situation is becoming critical as supplies of food and medicine run low. “The heat is extreme right now,” a volunteer in KNU Brigade 1 territory said. “There is a desperate need for clean water, shelter, and medical supplies for the children and the elderly.”
Military sources indicate the operation involves over 300 troops from Light Infantry Battalions 2 and 8, led by Major Aung Zaw Moe. The column continues to move from village to village, utilizing both heavy artillery and drones in their assault.
As of Friday morning, the sounds of heavy weaponry continue to echo through the region, with no signs of the military offensive slowing down.
