The Myanmar Junta Army raided and set fire to villages in Khin U Township, displacing about 7,000 people, on 7 and 8 May.

In the early morning of 7 May, a Military Council column of 200 soldiers marched from Thabeikkyin township in Mandalay region to the eastern part of Khin U Township in Sagaing Region. There, the column torched civilian houses in Kabwet Village around 10:00 a.m. and in the evening, they entered Kotetat Village firing small arms and artillery.

According to the Khin U Township True News Information team, there was a clash between the junta column and local defence forces, resulting in one defence force fighter being killed and another one injured.

One of the True News Information Team said to Mizzima: "As a result of the military column, approximately 3,000 residents of nearby villages, including Kabwet and Kotetat villages, have fled and are in need of assistance.”

On the morning of 8 May, more than 70 military council soldiers from Ye U Township to the west and members of the junta-aligned Pyu Saw Htee militia based in Ywar Thit Kone Village to the southwest raided villages in the western part of Khin U Township.

"Today [8 May], around 8:00 a.m. Myanmar army soldiers raided Mya Kan Village in the western part of Khin U Township, then they went to Aung Thayar, and are now positioned at Inn Bauk Village. Junta soldiers are firing heavy artillery from Inn Bauk”, said the True News Information Team member.

The arrival of the junta forces caused more than 4,000 residents from seven villages in the western part of Khin U township to flee.

"As far as we know, the junta column deployed in the western part of Khin U Township has not yet set fire to the villages, but they have raided houses and taken civilian’s belongings. But because the locals haven't been able to return to their homes, we don't yet know what they've lost”, said the True News Information Team member.

According to reports, there is insufficient local aid for all the displaced villagers and local civil society organisations have asked for assistance from across the country.