The Northern Alliance allowed a convoy of 200 vehicles carrying over 700 Internal Displaced Persons(IDPs) who were being trapped in Manli Shuwar and Parzinkyaw villages in Laukkai Township for three days to leave for Wa Region since yesterday noon, according to local sources.
Those IDPs worried that the civil war might break out in Laukkai. So, they left Laukkai on November 4. On arrival at the road between Manli Shuwar and Parzinkyaw villages, they were blocked. After three days later, they faced shortages of food and drinking water and they are in urgent need of helps.
“ We have been allowed and we are now going to Nantit. But, we must be checked. We left for safer places by own cars. Now, we, a lot of people, arrived in Mungmot Township yesterday evening. We didn’t contact with the remaining people. Nantit Township will close at night. So, we don’t know how many people remained in Nantit. The front of a group of people is now passing through the Mungmot. I think, the remaining people may last about three days for leaving to another places,” one of the IDPs told the Eleven Media.
Social welfare organizations requested the northern armed groups to help the trapped people. Therefore, the northern armed groups allowed the trapped IDPs leaving for Nantit Township in Wa region yesterday evening.
“In the blocked area before arriving at the Parzinkyaw village where a person will come there from Laukkai about 45 minutes, the armed groups blocked the road by laying the trees. If IDPs will return to Laukkai, the Laukkai authorities didn’t allow the IDPs returning to Laukkai. Among the IDPs, there are a lot of children, women and elders. The IDPs already faced drinking water and food shortages,” said one of the IDPs.
The MNDAA, TNLA, AA, BPLA and PDF (Mandalay) launched coordinated attacks on Laukkai, Kunlong, Theinni, Lashio, Kutkai, Namtkham Townships of northern Shan State, including Chin Shwe Haw of Kokant Self-administered zone since October 27. So, fighting intensified in northern Shan state. Moreover, the MNDAA issued a warning letter over closure of Muse-Lashio Union Road and Laukkai-Lashio Union Road. Over 20 towns are reportedly experiencing shortages of food, medicine and fuel, as well as power outages and disconnect phone lines.
“War isn’t good. So, we would like to request relevant authorities to re-open the transportation access. Mainly, local people suffered from the war. It is impossible for me to flee to safer places from Hsenwi. Now, there are about 30,000 IDPs at a monastery. In Hsenwi Township, there are over 7 refugee camps where the IDPs are now suffering from physical and mental problems,” said the displaced person from Theinni Township.
Due to the blocked road, there were difficulties with transfer of emergency patients in northern Shan state. Moreover, commodities flows already halted and the prices of basic consumer goods and fuel are set to rise now in northern Shan state where over 60,000 displaced by fighting and they are now sheltering at the refugee camps and then they are in urgent need of food, medicines and drinking water.
