The Central Executive Committee of the Karen National Union (KNU) issued a statement on December 20 urging the United Nations (UN) to convene an emergency meeting to declare a no-fly zone in Lay Kay Kaw area as Tatmadaw could carry out airstrikes in the area at any time.

The KNU is providing the temporary shelter on a humanitarian basis for politicians, non-violent opponents and activists, in the new town of Lay Kay Kaw in Dooplaya District, and the clashes on December 15 were the result of the KNU's self-defense.

The KNU also thanked the Thai government and people for providing shelter for more than 3,000 refugees on the Thai side of the border, who have been evacuated due to the fighting. He also thanked Thailand for allowing more than 2,000 more refugees to cross the border on December 19, and hoped for adequate accommodation. Similarly, they are very grateful for the assistance provided for the medical and temporary needs to Kayin people at home and abroad and ethnic people, who are fleeing the ongoing fighting, are being provided with food and shelter by the local and international organizations and urge them to continue to support and increase your cooperation, the statement said.

In addition, the KNU requested in the statement to the respective stakeholders for the current fighting in the statement: neighboring Thailand to provide access to international organizations and provide assistance to those fleeing the fighting, to convene an emergency meeting by the UN to declare a no-fly zone in Lay Kay Kaw area as Tatmadaw could carry out airstrikes in the area at any time, the Tatmadaw to withdraw of its troops from the area where the fighting took place, the Tatmadaw to be pledged to withdraw from future political interference and the establishment of a federal democratic union was the only solution to the end of the civil war which has been ongoing for over 70 years.