Almost 25,000 civilians have been displaced in Sagaing’s Depayin and Shwebo townships amid a fresh outbreak of fighting between junta troops and resistance forces, according to local sources.
Resistance forces attacked at around 11 am on Wednesday, shortly after junta infantry raided Ma Ya Kan village in Depayin, a local resistance fighter said.
“The fighting lasted for about 45 minutes. They lost seven soldiers while a few comrades from our side sustained minor injuries,” he said.
The Irrawaddy could not independently verify the casualty numbers.
The clash came after around 100 junta troops advanced into Depayin Township from nearby Ye-U Township on Tuesday, according to locals.
Junta soldiers reportedly torched around 27 houses in Ma Ya Kan village, which was hosting around 1,000 displaced people sheltering in monasteries and relatives’ homes.
Sources said two residents of Ywar Shey village were wounded by the junta’s indiscriminate shelling during the attack.
On Wednesday, Depayin volunteers said they were overwhelmed by an unprecedented influx of new refugees, adding to about 10,000 who had already fled from Shwebo over the last few days.
“Yesterday was a complete nightmare for us. There was no room for newly displaced people and we could not provide food for all of them,” said Ko Phyo, a member of the Depayin Township Brothers volunteer group.
Another volunteer said they had to borrow rice after running out of funds, and stressed the inadequate provision of humanitarian aid in their area.
“We could only provide one meal for them [displaced people] because our funding was insufficient,” the volunteer said.
Depayin villagers eventually returned to their homes after junta infantry moved to Depayin town on Thursday morning.
However, nearly 10,000 Shwebo villagers remain stranded in eastern Depayin after fleeing junta infantry in Seik Kon village, western Shwebo, on Sunday.
Displaced Shwebo residents are currently sheltering at monasteries and schools in Mu Thit, Mu Kan, Hpoke Tan Taw, Su Tat, and Taik villages, according to Depayin volunteers.
Moreover, around 600 families have been permanently displaced in Depayin Township since the 2021 military coup. Of the displaced families, around 100 need urgent food supplies and shelter, say volunteer groups.
