Civilians Need Aid Amid SAC Offensives in Sagaing Region
By Network Media Group
Friday, October 20, 2023
Civilians in Pale Township urgently require food and medical assistance due to offensives conducted by the State Administration Council (SAC) since October, which have cut off supplies to nearly 50,000 people affected by the conflict in Sagaing Region.
“They have already been displaced for a long time,” says Ko Toe Wai Aung from the Pale People’s Strike Committee. He mentioned that the elderly and children, in particular, are falling ill during the rainy season and are in urgent need of proper healthcare.
“If the Burma army continues its operation, they will face many troubles…We must take care of these people as much as we can.”
Even Buddhist monks and novices are among those displaced in the township.
Unfortunately, they haven’t received as much assistance from the exiled National Unity Government as they would like, he said, despite conducting their own fundraising to make up for this shortfall.
“There are many poisonous snakes in this area, and people often get bitten,” he said adding to the challenges of transporting them to a clinic. With the conflict ongoing, “in the long term, people will face many difficulties in receiving adequate healthcare.”
There are at least two SAC columns patrolling the township, indiscriminately shelling villages, and setting people’s homes on fire. Already, 15 villagers have fled to the jungle to escape the soldiers.
“The two columns are traveling simultaneously while the Burma army attacks civilian villages in southern Pale Township with artillery.”
Residents of Mya Kon, Kokko Kon, Letpu Kan, Hnaw Kan, Min Tine Pin, Let Taung Gyi, Zaydi Yon, Thitayar, Sinshin, Thitin, Mone Thwin, and Chaung Oo have all fled. There are four displaced camps in the township. Some of the civilians staying there used to live near a village now occupied by a Pyusawhtee group, which is an armed group under the military regime, making it unsafe for them to return to their homes.
The army has burned homes in Chaung Oo, forcing people living in a displaced camp that was set up in the village to flee at least three times. While some residents have been able to return to their homes after the columns passed through their area, but many others remain on the run.
