Military Council forces burned down over 1,500 houses in six villages in the south of Sagaing Region’s Kalay Township while they were conducting clearance operations, between 10 April and 18 May, according to locals.

They burned down 1,518 houses in six villages, Ashai Si, Sharbo, Yashin, Lalchar, Shartaw and Tinthar, setting fire to some of those villages on three separate occasions during that period.

“A total of 500 houses in Ashae Si Village, 513 houses in Sharbo, 331 houses in Yayshin, 60 houses in Lalchar, 100 houses in Shartaw and 14 houses in Tinthar were burnt downed”, said a social worker from Yayshin Village.

Junta soldiers stole belongings from houses before they set them on fire burning everything down, including the toilets. They also slaughtered and ate animals.

The burnings have forced hundreds of villagers to flee.

Early in the morning on 18 May junta soldiers also set fire to Kokkol Village in Kalay Township, but currently the number of casualties is unknown.