Mizzima

Over 200 people fled from fighting in Maliwan Village, Myanmar’s southernmost district, Kawthaung in Tanintharyi Region, to Thailand on 20 and 21 September.

Fighting began in Maliwan Village on 20 September and was still ongoing at the time of reporting on 21 September.

“IDPs from Khamukgyi Town and Maliwan Village have fled to Thailand. We provided them with food yesterday. More are still coming”, said Khaing Thwe, a volunteer assisting the displaced refugees.

He said that more than 30 people had fled from Myanmar to Thailand in small boats on 20 September and on 21 September about a further 170 people fled to Thailand, bringing the total to 200, though these numbers have not been independently confirmed.

Currently, the Thai authorities have granted the refugees temporary permission to stay in the country. More are still arriving.

Another person assisting the refugees in Thailand said: “As the Military Council conducted a clearance operation in Khamukgyi on the morning of 21 September, more residents fled and are in need of emergency food assistance.”

Unfortunately, a man from Chaungwa Village in Kawthaung Township was killed by an artillery round randomly fired by the junta at 9:00 a.m. on 21 September.

Previously, in August, 100 Burmese people fled from fighting in Maliwan Village to Thailand, but on that occasion, the fighting died down and the refugees were able to return on the same evening.