MYANMAR- According to a statement released by the Karen Peace Support Network (KPSN) last Tuesday (September 26), up to 62 military council camps were conquered by the resistance forces in southeast Myanmar by July 2023.
KPSN published a report entitled “Change in the Power Balance; narrowing military control in the southeast region of Myanmar”.
According to the report, Myanmar’s military’s control over the southeast regions declined significantly in both the military and administrative roles since the coup in February 2021.
KPSN stated that 24 army camps were occupied while 38 army camps were abandoned due to offensives by the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and resistance forces against the military troops.
During the coup d’état, nearly 130 civilians were killed and more than 480 were injured due to the military airstrikes and heavy weapons attacks.
KPSN also stated that due to the accelerated use of heavy weapons and airstrikes by the military council, the number of displaced persons has reached more than 630,000 in the Kawthoolei Region (which is an 18% increase from the data last January)
Due to an increasing number of war refugees, at least 42 million US dollars is needed to settle the 12-month rations requirement and current food crisis (estimated from basic needs per person for six months), according to KPSN.
Currently, in addition to food, shelter and medical needs, there are also targeted needs for children and women (such as schooling, mental support, and hygiene needs), as announced by KPSN.