2023 On March 18, Bago Division Nyaung Leap District, While seeing a heavy weapon shell that fell into a village in Kyaukgyi Township.
Baguio Nyaung Leap District, The Karen National Union (KNU) reported on March 19 that 2,696 residents of four villages were displaced due to the firing of heavy weapons by the Military Council Army (60) in Kyaukgyi Township on March 18.
Thoni Hill Village Sipalay Village, It is said that more than 2,600 people from 511 households in the four villages of Reley (Karen) and Reley (Burma) are fleeing.
The KNU announced that three cows were injured when six shells fell into the village of Le Le (Karen) when the military council unit Khlara (60) fired heavy weapons from the village of Gyongone.
He said there were no casualties as the civilians were fleeing from the shooting.
Residents said that the military council troops are frequently firing heavy weapons in Nyaung Lai Pin District, which is controlled by the 3rd KNLA Brigade under the control of the Karen National Union (KNU).
The Military Council side has not released any news about the ongoing fighting with the KNLA troops.
After the military coup, more than 8,000 battles broke out between the military council army and the KNLA army under the KNU.
Human rights groups call for return of aid to Rohingya refugees
On March 16, the British-based Burma Campaign-UK asked to prepare for the British government's decision to cut aid by 82 percent to the nearly one million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and to restore aid as before.
"This action by the British government is already reducing food rations for refugee families."
The British government has cut aid to Rohingya refugees by 82 percent in the current budget year.
In 2019-2020, 112.36 million pounds were supported, but in 2022-2023, only 20.36 million pounds will be supported, according to a statement by Burma Campaign UK.
He said that he answered a question in the British Parliament about support for the Rohingya refugees.
Karin Valtersson, organizer of the Burma Campaign UK, said the British government's now 82 percent cut could worsen the already food-insecure refugee situation. He also asked for the return of aid to these refugees.
"It is very bad that the British government has cut aid to the Rohingya refugees. The Rohingya refugees are suffering badly in Bangladesh camps. At the moment, they have not been able to return to Burma either. Due to the military coup, it is not possible to return to Burma again. Most of the refugees are children. It is very bad that they are doing this when they are already suffering from insufficient food. It is very bad that they are doing this. Governments around the world, including the British government, request that the governments of the world, including the British government, amend the reductions in aid and support them as before."
Human rights watchdog HRW's Asia director, Phil Robertson, said he was shocked by the British government's decision to cut aid to the Rohingya, and said the decision should be reversed and aid should be given as generously as before.
"I feel shocked and illogical that the British government has significantly reduced aid to the Rohingya refugees. Although the British government was willing to provide aid when the Rohingya issue was receiving international attention, now that the Rohingya conflict is no longer at the top of the world's agenda, it seems that it wants to turn its back on the Rohingya issue. Due to the actions of the British government, the food rations for refugee families are currently being reduced. Therefore, the British government should revise this decision and provide generous assistance as originally provided."
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (WFP) has cut aid to the Rohingya by 17 percent since early March.
“Even with $12, we don't have enough. We don't have enough, Malays. There are some who leave Indonesia, etc.
Rohingya rights activist Rone San Lwin told RFA that if the British government, a donor country, cuts aid by 82 percent again, the UN World Food Program (WFP) will receive less monthly food aid for the Rohingya.
"I just left Bangladesh last Tuesday. I also met with the relevant donor countries. I also met with Bangladesh government officials. If we don't get enough budget to feed these people, it will decrease even more. We went to the donor countries, including Britain, to see what could happen if this were reduced. If Britain has said it explicitly, if it is cut by 82 percent, it will affect more to eat and drink. Now it may be reduced from $10 to $8, or even reduced to $6. It can go to the ground quite a bit and cause damage.”
Since WFP has provided 12 dollars a month for the Rohingyas in Bangladesh, it has been able to provide only 10 dollars a month since March.
Refugees in the Coxsack Bazar district of Bangladesh say they have not enough money to pay for food, and they have been asking for an increase in their allowance from $20 to $30 a month.
"We don't have enough from the beginning. Even with $12, we don't have enough. Malays, Indonesians, etc. are leaving for their lives because we don't have enough. They die at sea, are extorted by human trafficking groups, tortured, sexually assaulted, and so on. Now that it has been reduced, the situation can get worse. "
Ko Aung Myain from Kutu Palaung refugee camp in Bangladesh.
Rohingya refugees are not allowed to go out of the camp to work, so they live on subsidies. If the subsidy is reduced, it may take longer for them to cross the sea to risk their lives in other countries, and human trafficking and crime may increase, according to refugee camp residents and Rohingya activists.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), nearly two hundred Rohingya died during the sea journey in 2022.
These Rohingya refugees in the refugee camps of Bangladesh are those who survived the genocidal attacks of the Burmese army. Now they are once again suffering from the international community's failure to provide even the most basic need for food, two UN special envoys said in a statement.