Civilians bear the brunt of KIA-PDF blockade and attack on Katha town
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Htet Nadi/Thant Zin (NP news)- January 3
The KIA and PDF have blockaded Katha town in Sagaing Region, forcing many locals to flee the war and leaving about 500 people behind in the town, and they are also facing hardships. The public is the most affected by the attack, according to interviews with some displaced residents by The Statesman.
There are many famous places in Katha, including the mansion where world-famous writer George Orwell lived, and it is still unclear whether these places were affected by the war or not.
Many locals have fled their homes due to the fighting that began on December 29. Currently, there are still people who are unable to leave the town due to the blockades imposed by the KIA and PDF on the Indaw- Katha road and Htigyaing- Katha road.
“People who have left the city can’t do anything. The Tatmadaw is defending along its internal lines. There are frequent airstrikes in the city. The KIA and PDF are also in the Indaw area (8 miles) away. On the Htigyaing side, they are waiting in Kyaukpon and Kalon villages to arrest the people. There are no government officials in the town. There are few people in our town. About 500. The locals are the ones who are short of food in the town,” a local told The Statesman Journal.
Currently, only Atom phone line is available in Katha, making it difficult to communicate with those who have left the town.
In addition, there are reports that some of those who have left have been arrested by the KIA and PDF groups.
Those who remain in the town are also facing threats from burglary gangs and food shortages, the source said.
“In the town, people are gathering in nearby houses. There are also groups of burglars who come every night. That is why people are staying with relatives. The city's population is only 500. The looters are in large numbers, with about 30 of them entering houses in cars and on motorcycles and destroying houses. Thieves have also stolen and burned down houses,” he said.
Another source said that the residents of Katha had already suffered the effects of the war, either directly or indirectly,and so they left the town only when they were in dire straits.
“It’s very cold in Katha in the winter. No one dares to venture out during this time without knowing the road conditions. They only went out when they had to. To be honest, they were already in a bad situation, so they had little money to spend and were just observing the situation. The residents know how badly the city will be damaged,” he said.
Residents have been posting on social media pages expressing their condolences to the town, but supporters of violence have also been seen making fun of this tragedy. –