About 600 internally displaced people (IDPs) arrived in Thiri Mingala Mansu Shan monastery in Lashio as clashes broke out around Lashio and nearby some villages in northern Shan State.

“We heard the explosion of heavy weapons and gunfire since yesterday morning and some hit houses but no one was injured. We were too frightened to stay at our houses and so we decided to flee.  Nearly all the villagers in our village fled the area. Some came here by riding social organizations’ cars and some left the village by their own vehicle or motorcycles,” said a woman from Matchinu village.

Clashes broke out near Maingyaw-Maingkyat village road in east of Lashio and Hopaik toll gate near Hopaik village, on Lashio-Muse Union Highway was also destroyed by explosion.

“My entire family fled the village as the gunfire was heard too close to us. We left our cattle and paddy and corn there. We didn’t dare to leave one person to look after the house,” said an old woman from Narpha village.

At present, there are about 600 IDPs taking shelter at the Thiri Mingala Mansu Shan monastery in Lashio. Some shops were closed and there were few people on the road due to clashes, but Lashio is nearly in a state of normalcy.