Fighting broke out near Lwetauk Village in Lashio, northern Shan State, using heavy guns forcing locals to flee away to Lashio on December 19, sources said.

The IDPs are staying at Thiri Mingalar Mansu Shan Monastery in Lashio.

“We heard gun fires near the village and heavy shells also exploded near the village. The village administrator ordered us not to run. We gathered our children in the school and rescue teams came to take us to Lashio. No one was injured in the fighting,” said a primary school teacher from Lwetauk Village.

A total of 560 IDPs from 139 family households from Panhome, Manpyain, and Nantkat villages were running away from their villages to Einaing Village as heavy shells exploded near their plantations on December 16 and they returned to their villages on December 17 as stability is restored in their areas.

“We just arrived from Einaing Village two days ago. Now we have to run away again due to the fighting. Only a little number of people are left in the village. We need blankets for elders and children as the weather is cold. We cannot take any belongings,” said Aike Paung from Lwetauk Village.

A total of 379 locals from Lwetauk Village and 80 locals from Panhome Village are taking shelter at Thiri Mingalar Mansu Shan Monastery and most of them are elders and children.

“Some men are left behind in the village to feed animals and to guard our properties. Some run away from their plantations. Some IDPs are over ninety years old and some are infants,” said Bauk Nan from Lwetauk Village.

Authorities from the natural disaster management department and respective government departments from Lashio and Presiding Monk of Thiri Mingalar Mansu Shan Monastery are helping the refugees.