At least 10,000 people in Kani Township, Yinmabin District, Sagaing Region, have fled to escape fighting and they are still in need of food and medicine, said locals sources.

They had fled following deployments of security forces and their searches and arrests in villages and clashes between those security forces and local resistance fighters holding homemade guns.

“Until now, they don’t dare to go back to their villages. They are fleeing to safer places after abandoning their homes and property. As now is the monsoon period, there are cases of illness. They have to go to other safe places because they fear returning home. They need food and medicine,” said a displaced person.

Sporadic clashes broke out between the local armed fighters and security forces in the previous months causing casualties on both sides. 

Those displaced locals who daren’t return to their homes are from several villages of Kani Township such as Kyaukhlayga, Yin, Kontha, Ohnma and Ngokchaung.