Seven locals were injured in a 13-day battle in Lay Kay Kaw area, south of Myawaddy, Kayin State, and 10 of the 6,000 people, who fled to Thailand, were found infected with COVID-19.

The injured people are being treated at Mae Sot Hospital.

The injured people, including a woman, are being treated at Mae Sot Hospital with the help of a Thai-based non-governmental organization.

The fighting, which began on December 15, has displaced more than 10,000 villagers and forced more than 6,000 to flee to Thailand.

Local refugees from villages in South of Myawaddy Township such as Mae Htaw Thale, Ingyin Myaing, Myitta Lin Myaing, Pahi Kalaw, Yathae Gu, Lay Kay Kaw New Town, Phaly Lay and Phalu Gyi, have to cross the Moei River from the nearby coast to flee to Thailand and the refugees, who cannot flee, stayed on the banks of the Moei River near Min Latt Pan and Phalu villages.

Thai authorities allowed the refugees to stay in two refugee camps and are providing medical check-ups.

Thai authorities conducted a medical examination of people in refugee camps on the Thai side of the border, and 10 of them were found to be infected with COVID-19. The injured people and those found to be infected with the COVID-19 are being treated at Mae Sot Hospital.

Fighting between the KNLA and the Tatmadaw, which began on December 15, in Lay Kay Kaw area, is continuing until December 27.