LOILEN-----The vehicles of Free Funeral Service Association were attacked near a signboard of Mong Kung Township, Loilen District, southern Shan State on January 11th but there was no injury, according to the Free Funeral Service Association under the leadership of Mong Kung Township Sangha Naryaka Committee.

The vehicles had to pick up the belongings of IDPs at the IDP camp situated in fighting area near a signboard of Mong Kung Township, Loilen District, and southern Shan State.

The Ta’aung (Palaung) nationals living in the IDP camp fled again to the compound of Mwedaw pagoda in Mong Kung because the current fighting is close to their IDP camp. However, their belongings were remained at the IDP camp.

So, two vehicles carrying five staff from Free Funeral Service Association and six Ta’aung nationals from Ywarshaung village had to collect the belongings of IDPs but the armed groups attacked two vehicles and there was no injure.

“In the past, the Ta’aung nationals sheltered at the IDPs camp situated at the entrance of Hsibaw Township. The fighting took place near the Hsibaw Township on January 11th. It is very close to the township. No one dare to live at the IDPs camp. So, the displaced Ta’aung nationals fled again to the compound of Mawdaw Pagoda in Mong Kung. But, their goods including tarpaulins were left at the IDPs camp. The vehicles carrying 11 peoples carried the belongings of IDPs. It is taken about three minutes. However, the unknown armed groups opened fire on two vehicles at the signboard of an entrance of Mong Kung Township. We thought that they[armed groups] threatened us with opening a fire. A bomb out of three bombs fell down near us. But, it didn’t explode. If the bomb will explode, the villagers will die. There was no injury and we don’t know which armed groups attacked us,” said an official from Free Funeral Service Association.

There are about 16 IDPs camps in Mong Kung Township accommodating with over 3,000 IDPs. Now, the IDPs are in urgent need of humanitarian aids and winter utensils.

The IDPs also said that some IDPs fled to Lechar Township via Mong Kung Township and some fled to Namtsam Township. The IDPs in Mong Kung Township are in urgent of blankets, tarpaulins, foods, bed-sheets and medicines.