By Kantarawaddy Times
Residents of Saung Pyaung Village in Pinlaung Township, southern Shan State, have once again been forced to flee en masse due to renewed clashes in the area, according to a Pa-O youth organization.
Locals began fleeing as early as May 17 following the outbreak of intense fighting on the ground, a representative of the Pa-O youth group told Kantarawaddy Times.
“Yes, it’s true. The clashes resumed near Saung Pyaung in Pinlaung. The fighting flared up again on May 17. The battles became intense, and junta forces heavily deployed artillery and airstrikes. As a result, residents began fleeing as early as the morning of the 17th, when the fighting broke out. Now, the entire village has been displaced,” the youth representative explained.
The newly displaced villagers from Saung Pyaung are now taking shelter in Pinlaung town and other nearby villages.
Although the residents had previously experienced displacement, the current situation has left many without essential supplies and are in need of urgent assistance, the youth representative added.
“Even though people had experienced displacement before, they weren’t prepared for the sudden resurgence of fighting. Many left without basic necessities like rice, cooking oil, or salt. Some arrived without even basic items like cooking pots or plates— these are the kinds of needs we are witnessing among the displaced,” he said.
Since May 17, intense clashes have continued between junta forces and the People’s Defense Force (PDF) aligned with the Pa-O National Organization (PNO), according to local sources.
Saung Pyaung and nearby villages had already been displaced due to prolonged fighting in March 2024. The current situation marks yet another round of mass displacement for the residents.
Saung Pyaung Village reportedly had more than 1,000 households before the most recent wave of displacement.
