Irrawaddy-Dec 18
More than 660,000 people have been displaced across Myanmar since the launch of Operation 1027 on Oct. 27, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, citing numbers as of Dec. 15. In its previous report, on Nov. 22, the agency put the number at about 335,000. The latest data shows a twofold increase in the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in seven states and five regions as an offensive against Myanmar’s military regime by three ethnic armies enters its eighth week. The surge in IDPs is on top of the at least 2.6 million people displaced nationwide since the February 2021 coup, the UN agency reported. Operation 1027 was launched by the Brotherhood Alliance – the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, Ta’ang National Liberation Army and Arakan Army – in northern Shan state on Oct. 27. In a show of support for the offensive, coordinated armed clashes against the military regime subsequently erupted in six more states – Chin, Karenni (Kayah), Karen, Kachin, Mon and Rakhine – and five regions: Sagaing, Magwe, Mandalay, Tanintharyi and eastern Bago. Northern Shan state has seen the largest number of IDPs: 120,000 people have fled their homes since the launch of the Oct. 27 offensive and the escalating indiscriminate airstrikes and shelling that the Myanmar military responded with. About 99,000 people remain displaced in 16 townships in northern Shan State as of Dec. 15, according to data from the UN refugee agency.mAllied ethnic and resistance forces have captured at least 21 towns and overrun more than 400 junta bases and outposts in seven states and five regions since the launch of Operation 1027. Read more at: https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/number-of-civilians-fleeing-war-in-myanmar-doubled-to-660000-in-one-month-un.html
