Bhamo residents feel despair over destruction from KIA, PDF incited conflict
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Phyo/Thant Zin (NP News) - June 24
IDPs from Bhamo told The Statesman Journal that the residents of Bhamo are disappointed with the war, which is leading to total destruction due to the conflict of the KIA and PDF.
Due to the fighting of the KIA and PDF, many residents of Bhamo have been forced to flee to Mandalay, Pyin Oo Lwin, and other towns for more than five months.
“There are over 1,200 families fleeing due to the war in Pyin Oo Lwin and Mandalay alone. That’s all we can count. If we haven’t counted yet, there will be around 2,000 families. There are still people who haven’t left the city. From what we’ve heard, there are also people fleeing to the monasteries. There are also many people fleeing to the villages around Bhamo,” said a resident of Bhamo who is an internally displaced person.
The source said that residents were disappointed with the fighting waged by the KIA and PDF, as they recently discovered through a google map update that almost all of Bhamo was destroyed in the fighting.
“When we looked at Bhamo on google map, we saw that our houses were destroyed, and it was very sad to know that if we go back, we will have no home. There are houses that were destroyed by weapons, and there are also houses that were burned down by thieves. Now, many Bhamo residents know whether their houses were destroyed. When I looked at it on June 5, it was very damaged. I am also very disappointed with the war. In fact, I am so exhausted that I don’t want to say anything about the war. That’s why I pray for peace in other cities that have not been in conflict. I don’t want it to be like our city,” he said.
Another local said he was deeply saddened by the destruction of many of Bhamo's landmarks, markets, and religious buildings during the fighting.
“During the fighting, all the important places and markets were burnt down. Many buildings were also destroyed. That’s why I am very disappointed with the war. Human lives were lost. These are the lives that cannot be recovered. During the war, only Burmese people died. It would have been better if these things had not happened. I want peace to come as soon as possible,” he said. –