■ Out of more than 30,000 displaced people sheltering in Wa region, over 400 migrant workers and 12 trucks were transported by UWSP to Kengtung.
■ Those who fled fighting to China from villages near the border couldn’t be contacted by their relatives.
Of the more than 30,000 displaced people who are sheltering in the area controlled by the United Wa State Party/United Wa State Army (UWSP/UWSA), over 400 migrant workers and 12 trucks were transported to Kengtung by the UWSP/UWSA.
In northern Shan State, on October 27, the armed groups of the northern alliance namely the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and Arakan Army (AA), and their allies BPLA, PDF (Mandalay) launched coordinated attacks on the towns of Laukkai, Chinshwehaw, Konlong, Hsenwi, Lashio, Kutkai and Namkham in the Kokang Self-Administered Zone. They then engaged in small and large clashes with the Myanmar military across northern Shan State, forcing over 30,000 local villagers in the self-administered zone to flee to the UWSP-controlled area.
“We have more than 30,000 people displaced by fighting. Over 3,000 more have arrived today,'' U Nyi Ran, who is in charge of the Lashio Liaison Office of the UWSP/UWSA, told Eleven Media.
The Wa Self-Administered Division provided fuel, cars and 100 Chinese yuan per person to those who have their own cars and those who come to work from outside of Shan State.
“We were stranded on October 27. We were taken to Namtik. From there, Wa helped the people who evaded the fighting. We received help even for our health. They arranged everything for those who had their own cars to return to the lower part of Myanmar,” said a merchant.
The Wa region is continuing to provide assistance to the trucks from all parts of Myanmar and those who want to return home from Chinshwehaw. More than 400 returnees and 12 trucks passed through Taunggyi today (November 5) and continued to leave for Han Myint Mo Road.
''On October, around 3 am, there was a battle between Kokang soldiers and the Myanmar military. We are truck drivers, so we have no place to run. So we were hiding under our trucks. Kokang soldiers arrived and took our car keys and mobile phones. They said we would be dangerous if we remained here. That's why we were sent to Namtik. They also brought the trucks back. Phones were also returned. Some didn’t receive their phones back. But, most got back everything they took. When we in the Wa region, they took care of everything,'' a truck driver, Ko Jit Tu told Eleven Media.
It is the second batch that a convoy of 12-wheeled trucks carrying 400 people has left the Wa region. They set off on November 1. They had to wait for three days in Kengtung to get permission from authorities. With the help of Myanmar Police Force, they are being transported from Kengtung to the town of Han Myin Mo.
The people who fled the fighting into China from villages near the Chinese border reportedly had their mobile phones seized by the Chinese side, and food could not be sent to them.
''Our relatives are in China. They were not allowed to visit their uncle there. Any food could not be sent to them. Now, those fleeing the war have been sent to the Covid centres there,'' said a Laukkai resident.
Regarding the matter, Eleven Media contacted the Department of External Affairs of Yunnan Province, China, but was unable to contact them.
Muse-Lashio Union Road and Laukkai-Lashio Union Road were closed following a notice issued by MNDAA. Over 20 towns are reportedly experiencing shortages of food, medicine and fuel, as well as power outages and disconnected phone lines.
