About 90,000 locals from Kawkareik, Kyondo, Winray and Notacaw townships in Kayin State have fled and are in need of food and emergency aid due to the intensification of fighting, announced the Center of the Karen National Union (KNU).

According to the KNU, residents living in the town and villages in Duplaya district, Kawthoolei Administrative Region under the KNU controlled area are fleeing to safer places due to the ongoing fighting in Duplaya district.

In Duplaya District, according to the census in November, among about 90,000 locals who are fleeing, there are more than 30,000 in Kawkareik Township, more than 20,000 in Kyondo Township, more than 20,000 people in Winray Township and around 20,000 in Notacaw Township. The number of people fleeing the war in Duplaya District is increasing as the fighting is intensifying in December, KNU Center announced.

The KNU in Duplaya District compiled a list of the people fleeing the war and opened small temporary relief camps in safe areas and placed in the villages with local villagers, according to the KNU center.

According to the emergency situation, the KNU in Duplaya District is helping the IDPs with accommodation, food and medical treatment, and the KNU has supervised the donations donated by donors at home and abroad. The Health and Relief Department of the KNU was assigned the task and assisted in the follow-up, the KNU Center announced.

Leaders in charge of administration from Duplaya District also personally visited the area where the residents who have fled from various townships in the district and gave words of encouragement to those fleeing the war. Domestic and foreign assistance is managed by the Department of Health and Relief, to distribute food and equipment, provide medical treatment and other necessary assistance, the KNU center announced.

However, as the number of people fleeing in Duplaya district is increasing day by day, the number of people who have been displaced by the war is also increasing, so the aid received from both domestic and foreign sources is no longer sufficient. There is still a need for more accommodation, food, health-related medicines and treatments, the statement of the KNU center stated.