Fighting Affects Thousands In Nyaung Lay Pin District
By Network Media Group
Thursday, March 16, 2023
About 5,000 villagers have been affected by fighting in Shwe Kyin Township, which has broken out in the Karen National Union (KNU) Brigade 3 area in Bago Region for over a week.
“The fighting continues until this morning. We can hear the sound of heavy weapon fire,” Saw Eh Star from the Nyaung Lay Pin District Karen Social Affairs told NMG on 14 March.
He said over 2,000 villagers from Inn Balar and 1,000 from Chaung Joe have sought safety from the violence.
Another source, who didn’t want to be named, said 6,000 villagers from 12 villages have been affected. These include Puzun Ai, Letkauk Wa, Pyin Yae, Moe Hko, Inn Kyeik, Inn Bawar, Y-Kyun, Hpoe Paiksan, Shwe Khe Su and Nyaung Ai.
“Some people have gone to stay with their relatives in Shwe Kyin, others are sheltering in Buddhist monasteries” or nearby villages,” he said.
At Kyauk Maw Buddhist monastery and pagoda, locals are providing food to displaced villagers.
Locals said the regime shelled their villages, although there was no fighting in the area. They call on the world to take action against the cruel dictatorship and help them with humanitarian aid.