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SAGAING DIVISION – Over 5,000 civilians are fleeing as around 200 junta soldiers from Salingyi Town have launched an offensive at Paung Wa and Nyaung Pin Ai Villages in Salingyi Township on Monday (July 3) at 9 a.m.
Civilians from those two villages and nearby villages are also fleeing. “Almost all villagers are fleeing since hearing the information of the junta offensive. We went to the village if the junta left, and the situation was stable. This morning’s offensive might force civilians from around six villages to flee,” said an official of the Salingyi Border Task Force.
Around 5,000 civilians from Taw Chaung, Paung Wa, Nyaung Pin Ai, Sar Htone, and Lat Pann Kyun Villages are fleeing, and there have been no clashes so far.
Since the start of 2023, the junta council has fired heavy artillery shells and used small weapons, taking civilians as hostages during their offensives at villages in Salingyi Township.
Most civilians are fleeing due to the junta’s offensive, as the junta council troops have also murdered hostages and looted valuable items from civilians’ houses, the official added.
On June 9, the PDF coalition forces attacked the police station in Nyaung Pin Gyi Village, Salingyi Township, and the battle led to around ten thousand civilians fleeing from Nyaung Pin Gyi and nearby villages.
Some fled to schools and monasteries in the nearby jungle and villages, some fled to Salingyi Town and Monywa City, but around 4,000 civilians couldn’t go back home.