CNI News
21 December 2023
The monastery in Narmaw Village where IDPs from Naung Pu Aung Village, Homalin Township in Sagaing Region, were taking refuge was burned down and a novice there died in the fire, said a resident of Naung Pu Aung.
He said it burned through the kitchen about 1:00 a.m on 20th December 2023.
" The monastery in Narmaw Village has been burned down. We have been in Narmaw. It was not burned due to the battle. It's not known yet why it burned. But a novice in the monastery died in the fire. The fire started around 1:30 a.m. All IDPs from Naung Pu Aung came and stayed in the monastery in Narmaw Village. Now that the monastery has been burned down, we still don't know what to do." a resident of Naung Pu Aung told CNI News.
While the battles were breaking out between the Shanni Nationalities and the KIA/PDF joint forces in November at Hwazingon Village, locals from nearby villages including ones from Naung Pu Aung came to Narmaw Village to flee the battle reportedly.
The Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA)
The KIA/PDF joint forces attacked Hlwazingon Village, Far Nine Village and Shwe Pyi Aye Town at the same time on 21st November and the KIA/PDF joint forces have controlled Shwe Pyi Aye reportedly.
There have been no battles at Hlwazingon and Far Nine at present. However, the battles are taking place at Thaungthut, Ohbokatauk and Tonhe regions along the Chindwin River between Tamu and Homalin, said a local.
"There are no battles near Uru Creek for the time being. Along the Chindwin River, the battles are severely taking place. The Tatmadaw is shooting by heavy weapons. But the KIA/PDF joint forces are capturing one village after another and approaching to Homalin. Ohbokatauk, Thaungthut, Tonhe and so on along the Chindwin River on the road to Tamu from Homalin have been captured by the KIA/PDF joint forces. They have already reached Tilaung Village." he said to CNI News.
The People's Defense Force (PDF)
Due to the current battles, over 2,000 locals from Shwe Pyi Aye Town, Myintha, Ngopin, Mezali, Zeebintha, Naung San Kyin, Hlwazingon and Naung Pu Aung Villages fled to Homalin reportedly.
The IDPs are taking refuge in the monasteries in Homalin and they are finding it difficult to get enough basic food because the roads and waterways have been blocked reportedly.
