Escalating Military Tension Sends Villagers Fleeing Again, Worry Grips Waimaw-Bhamaw Roads

Pajau Media Channel

18th March,2024

In the wake of escalating military tensions between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the Burmese Army, anxiety has gripped the once tranquil villages along the Waimaw-Bhamaw roads. The uneasy calm that followed previous conflicts has been shattered, prompting villagers to flee their homes once more as the specter of battle looms large.

Initially displaced by the simmering conflict, some villagers cautiously returned to their homes when tensions seemed to ease. However, recent developments have reignited fears, leaving residents of Gara Yang, Dabak Yang, and Katsu Yang in a state of perpetual apprehension, with the looming threat of conflict casting a dark shadow over their lives.

According to a resident of Gara Yang, some villagers have sought refuge in the Maina Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp, revisiting the shelters they had once reluctantly vacated. Others have opted to flee the vicinity of their villages altogether, seeking safety in more distant locales.

A local source revealed that on Saturday evening, residents of Mada village fled to Labang Kahtawng, driven by the palpable fear of impending conflict. The situation in Waimaw Township has steadily deteriorated over the past two weeks, with thousands of villagers forced to abandon their homes and seek sanctuary in temporary camps. Tragically, amidst the chaos of battle, sources report that lives have been lost due to the lack of adequate medical care, underscoring the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region.

As tensions continue to mount, the fate of these embattled communities remains uncertain, with the specter of conflict casting a long and ominous shadow over the once peaceful landscapes of Waimaw-Bhamaw roads.