There have been over 96,000 internally displaced people in three townships of Mutraw District, where the Karen National Union (KNU)’s Brigade-5 is stationed, the KNU has announced in a statement.

Fighting is reported on a daily basis between the battalions under Brigade-5 of the Karen National Liberation Army and the government’s Border Guard Force (BGF) in the district, according to the statement.  

As artillery shells fall in the villages when fighting breaks out, 96,180 local people have fled to the townships of Luthaw, Dwelo and Butho leaving their property and businesses behind, the statement said.  

District officials are providing as much assistance as possible as the IDPs face food shortages. With the increasing number of IDPs, however, the need for assistance is rising, the statement added.