YANGON: Thousands of people are feared to have been displaced in northern Myanmar due to four days of intense fighting between ethnic armed groups and junta troops, according to the United Nations.
The conflict, which began on Friday, involves the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the Arakan Army (AA), and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA). These groups have reportedly seized military posts and key roads in northern Shan state, an area significant for a planned billion-dollar rail link associated with China’s Belt and Road infrastructure project.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs stated that over 6,200 people have been newly displaced, with several hundred people fleeing to China in search of safety. Ongoing clashes are expected to lead to more displacements.
Ethnic Clashes in Myanmar
Residents in towns like Hsenwi, located on a vital road to China, are seeking refuge in places like Buddhist monasteries due to the ongoing fighting. China’s foreign ministry expressed concern and called on all sides to prevent the situation from escalating.
Myanmar has seen numerous ethnic armed groups operating in its frontier areas, clashing with the government for decades. Since the military coup in 2021, several of these groups have allied with People’s Defence Forces, forming a resistance against the junta’s rule.
According to the United Nations’ estimate, over 1.6 million people have been displaced by the violence that erupted after the military ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian government.
