In Myanmar, weeks of fighting near the town of Myawaddy on the Thai border has forced tens of thousands of people into Thailand. But many more remain trapped inside the country. 
The United Nations estimates 2.5 million people have been displaced by fighting since the military seized power in a 2021 coup.

Myawaddy

In the ongoing crisis within Myanmar, the clashes near the town of Myawaddy, located on the border with Thailand, have exacerbated the displacement issue, driving tens of thousands into Thailand. The conflict, which has intensified in weeks, has left even more individuals trapped inside Myanmar, unable to escape the violence. The United Nations has revealed that the fighting, which has persisted since the military coup in 2021, has displaced a staggering 2.5 million people. 

In one heartbreaking account, a family from the village near Kokore shares their plight. Having been forced to flee their homes multiple times, they find themselves without basic necessities, surviving on minimal aid such as a bag of rice and some oil from a local temple. The family, including Dona Poh, her daughters, and grandchildren, describe the terror of being targeted by military forces, recalling instances of shelling and looting by soldiers.

The closure of most schools since the coup and the disruption to basic services, including healthcare, compound the dire situation for displaced populations. In a clandestine clinic under the dense jungle, the struggle for life continues, highlighting the severity of the conflict. A fighter recuperates from shrapnel wounds while a pregnant woman, Ma Pan A, endures a perilous journey to receive critical medical attention. Her situation underscores the desperate circumstances many face, culminating in a life-threatening birth that thankfully results in a successful delivery.

This account from Myanmar illustrates not just the relentless violence and fear among those directly affected by the conflict but also the resilience and challenges faced by healthcare providers operating in such dangerous environments. The international community remains concerned as millions remain displaced, with countless lives irrevocably altered by ongoing hostilities.



Myanmar's civil war leaves 2.5 million people displaced

Forced out of their homes and now hiding from the heat, a group of displaced people sit in the shade. They have nowhere else to go. This is the third time they have had to flee their village close to the town of Kokore. Amongst them, Dona Poh, her daughters and grandchildren. They have been sheltering here for three weeks with nothing but a bag of rice and some oil donated by the local temple. They hadn't even arrived in our village before they started shelling us and we were scared that the soldiers would shoot us. Last year, they were in our village, they looted anything valuable from our houses. It's especially hard for the children. Most schools have been closed since the coup three years ago and constantly moving is deeply unsettling. Other basic services like health care are scarce too. One injured fighter is being treated for a shrapnel injury. He winces with pain as the doctor treats and dresses his wound. The clinic is hidden under the deep jungle canopy. The military has targeted anywhere it thinks might be helping the rebels. Twenty-four hours a day, there's a constant buzz in the sky. That's what the fighters say is a Y-12, it's a spotter plane that's up there looking for targets for artillery but also capable of dropping barrel bombs. The fighters know to stay out of sight, slipping seamlessly under the cover of the trees and shrubs. The thud of explosions in the distance. Back at the clinic, a small truck arrives. Inside, Ma Pan A, in labor and moaning in pain. They hurry her into the surgery. She and her family are also displaced from their home. It took them seven hours to get to the clinic. We had to carry her with a hammock. There were around eight people carrying her down the mountain. Then we took a car along the rough jungle road. It was so difficult. We didn't know how to relieve her pain. They put her on a drip but there's only so much the doctor can do. He's worried the long journey may have harmed the expecting mother and the baby inside. Very quickly the child is born but it's not breathing. Its skin color is turning purple. The doctor quickly gets to work as vital seconds tick away. And then the sound everyone has been hoping to hear. Not smiles and relief for the family and the medical staff, but a new arrival in a very uncertain world. Tony Cheng, Al Jazeera, Cayen State, Myanmar.

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