By Kantarawaddy Times
Farmers from four villages in Pruso Township, Karenni State, have been unable to harvest their rice crops due to continuous drone bombings and artillery shelling by junta forces, according to local sources. As a result, they are growing increasingly concerned about food insecurity in the coming months.
“Not many people dare to go to the fields to harvest anymore,” said one rice farmer from Pruso. “Only about four or five people go to work in an entire field. When a drone appears, we have to run and hide. We can only go to areas where there are no drones or artillery attacks. Most of the nearby fields are now abandoned. We’re too afraid to go harvesting, so we’ll have no food for the whole year.”
Many local residents and displaced farmers said they are deeply worried about their food situation since they could not harvest their rice. Some fields have already been destroyed by animals because they were left unattended.
Junta troops stationed near Pruso town and along main roads have made it even more dangerous for farmers to travel to their fields, as skirmishes could erupt at any time. Both local villagers and displaced people from the four affected villages have been unable to complete their harvest.
“Most people have already fled,” said an aid worker assisting displaced families. “Everyone has to stay constantly alert. There are at least four villages that couldn’t harvest this year.”
In October, junta troops carried out repeated artillery and drone attacks on local residents and displaced people harvesting rice and groundnuts in Pruso and Dee Maw Hso townships, killing three civilians and injuring eight others, according to local reports.
On November 3, junta soldiers based in Makrohshay Village of Pruso Township conducted advancement movements toward Tharleh Village, prompting the Karenni National Defense Force (KNDF) to issue a warning advising the public to avoid traveling along the Pruso–Tharleh–Nanphe main road due to security risks.
