Thousands of refugees flee embattled Kachin State

Thousands of refugees are fleeing the intense fighting in Kachin State after government forces launched a series of attacks on rebel-held strongholds on April 10. 

Fighting erupted when the Myanmar army attacked Kachin Independence Army (KIA) bases around Mansi Township in Bahmo district in northeastern areas of Momauk Township and along  northern Shan State. 

A local NGO claims that up to 3,000 villagers have fled to a refugee camp, but unknown numbers have also crossed the border into China despite reluctant assistance from the Chinese authorities.

“More than 3,000 refugees have fled to Man Wain Gyi refugee camp and the fighting has forced the villagers to flee across to China and Nanhkan in Shan State,” said Naw Din from Karuna Myanmar Social Services (KMSS).

Heavy mortar and gunfire near the La Gut Yan refugee camp forced nearly 800 already displaced families to flee to Man Wain Gyi camp. More than 5,000 refugees have also fled to Muse and Nanhkan and more have crossed into China. 

The Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) claimed that the recent fighting has displaced up to 10,000 people but sources from the army’s northern command downplayed the numbers. 

“As far as I know, the number of refugees is about ten thousand. Especially the locals from the villages around Man Wain Gyi,” said an official from the KIO headquarters in Laiza.

Local NGOs and international organisations are helping displaced villagers at Man Wain Gyi, Muse and Nahkan, but refugees who crossed the border are facing difficulties with the Chinese authorities.

“The Chinese gave them a place to stay but they didn’t provide food,” said John San Lin, a freelance journalist reporting from the area.

A senior military official from the military’s northern command said  the number of the refugees was not as many as has been claimed and played down the prospect of a growing cross-border humanitarian situation.

“They cannot be more than ten thousand. They are mostly from Man Wain Gyi. Refugees from Man Wain Gyi are from Nant Lin Par. The villagers fled to Muse and Nanhkan are from Shan villages in Kachin State. Some have returned to their villages,” said the official.

The clashes between the army and Kachin Independence Army (KIA) occurred mainly in Mansi, the upper areas of Bahmo-Momauk, Muse and Nanhkan townships and the neighbouring areas over several days over the Thingyan New Year holidays. 

The army launched attacks on the KIA’s Battalion 27 base camp in the Brigade-3 area on April 10 and finally captured the base and surrounding areas. Fighting continued when army troops entered the area controlled by KIA Battalion 9, Brigade-4, in northern Shan State and skirmishes continued until April 16.

“The temporary base camp of Battalion 27 has been destroyed and the gate camp has been captured by government troops. But they didn’t stop their operation and continued to march to the areas controlled by KIA Battalion 1. If they continue the operation, the fighting will carry on,” warned an officer from KIO headquarters in Laiza.

The heavy fighting broke out in the upper areas of Bahmo-Momauk controlled by the Battalion 1 on April 17 and heavy gunfire could be heard between Bahmo and Lwaje, according to some sources.

Both sides have suffered fatalities in the fighting but the number of casualties has not been announced.