NAINGPAIN- Due to the flash fighting took place near Lashio Township, northern Shan State, the villagers nearby Lashio Township took shelter at Thirimingalar Mansu Monastery in Lashio Township.

“We fled to Mansu Monastery on August 19th. The Helicopter came to our village on August 18th and the armed group set fire at a distance of 2 miles from our village. That’s why we fled to a safer place. Schools are already closed. We saw the attacks from our village. Some villagers remained at the monastery in the village,” said a teacher from Basic Post Primary School in Mankat village.

As fighting took place near Mankat village situated on Lashio-Mongyaw road, locals nearby villages fled to Mansu Monastery in Lashio Township.

“It is the paddy cultivation season. Some locals fled to the downtown after leaving their agricultural work. We left our cattle in the village. If the situation will be stable, we are going to return back home,” said a local from Mankat village.

“There are about 500 IDPs at the monasteries in Matchinu and Taryaw villages. They took shelter at the monasteries because they had no chance to come to Lashio Township. We, the well-wishers, donated cash and kinds to the monasteries for IDPs,” said Ko Myo from Local Charity Organization.

There are over 1,000 IDPs in Mansu Monastery in Lashio Township until August 19th. Some assumed that the region was stable. So, they returned back home on August 20th.

Now, there are over 250 IDPs in Mansu Monastery.

Similarly, the flash fighting takes place between Theinni and Kutkai and Kutkai and Muse Township on Lashio-Muse Union Highway.