July 15, 2024
LASHIO – Thousands of refugees from Lashio have arrived in Taunggyi, facing various difficulties, according to local residents of Taunggyi.
Fighting began around Lashio on July 3 between the military and the MNDAA group, leading to an influx of war refugees into Taunggyi.
“There are many people coming from Lashio. Those who can afford it are staying in guesthouses, but most cannot, so they are staying in friends’ houses and monasteries,” said a Taunggyi resident.
Currently, over 300 refugees are taking shelter at social welfare offices, Wailuwun Monastery, Shan Pitakat Monastery, and the Shan Literature and Culture Office in Taunggyi, according to reports.
“This is just what I know. I don’t have information about other places. At least thousands of refugees have arrived,” another Taunggyi resident commented.
Due to the arrival of refugees, there may be a shortage of accommodation and food, a Taunggyi resident noted.
Taunggyi is the closest city to Lashio, and while the previous bus fare from Lashio to Taunggyi was tens of thousands of kyats, it has now increased to at least 500,000 kyats, according to locals.
“Fuel shortages have been an issue in Lashio for some time now. The price of a gallon of gasoline has reached around 60,000 kyats,” said a refugee from Lashio.
Many residents from Lashio are leaving for other cities, causing a backlog of vehicles at the Sintin jetty on the Lashio-Mandalay Union Highway, with queues stretching to thousands of vehicles.
“To go anywhere from Lashio, you have to pass through Sintin. Traveling towards Mandalay is difficult because of the ongoing fighting, so most people are heading to Taunggyi,” said a Taunggyi resident.