Thousands of people have been trapped in three villages in Waingmaw Township, Kachin State
Mizzima
Thousands of people have been trapped in three villages in Waingmaw Township, Kachin State by fighting between the Myanmar junta and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA).
The affected villages are Aung Myay (1) Village, Aung Myay (2) Village, and Shwenyaungbin Village. All are on the Myitkyina to Bhamo road section in Waingmaw Township, Kachin State.
Fighting between the junta army and the KIA on the Myitkyina to Bhamo road in Waingmaw Township started on 7 March 2024.
Fighting in Aung Myay (2) Village started intensifying at around 5:00 am on 7 March, making leaving impossible. The junta forces then started firing artillery into the village on 9 March, according to a villager.
They said: “On 9 March, the junta commenced artillery shelling at 5:30 am. I was still in bed at that time. When heavy weapons struck our village, I sought refuge under the bed without eating or drinking until 5 pm. In the evening when we sought safety at the village monastery.”
According to villagers three people, including a 100-year-old woman, were killed and two people, including a child, were injured in a junta drone attack on Aung Myay (2) Village at around noon on 9 March.
Currently, about 600 displaced local people are seeking refuge inside the monastery in Aung Myay (2) Village. They have said that they want to go to Waingmaw Town for their own safety, but they cannot because of the fighting and because they cannot get permission from the junta to do so, according to a villager from Aung Myay (2).
They said: “The situation is dire. However, we fear potential airstrikes and heavy weapon fire from the Military Council. We wished to evacuate, but the ongoing fighting is hindering our movement.”
The villagers of Aung Myay (1) Village and Shwenyaungbin Village, also in Waingmaw Township, have also been trapped in their villages by fighting, according to the villagers’ social media posts.
“We are making efforts to aid those trapped. It’s heartbreaking to witness their distress. Currently, we are striving to assist residents of Aung Myay (1), Aung Myay (2) and Shwenyaungbin villages to reach safety in Waingmaw. Stay resilient,” posted Abbot Van Vizaya, of the nearby Washaung Village, on his social media platform.
Junta aircraft are still circling the area of Aung Myay (1) and Aung Myay (2) villages and fighting persists, according to locals. At the time of reporting the most recent airstrike had been carried out at 10:00 pm on 10 March.
Local residents estimate that approximately 3,000 individuals may be trapped in the villages of Aung Myay (1), Aung Myay (2), and Shwenyaungbin. However, Mizzima has not yet been able to independently verify this figure.
