KOKANG – A mass exodus is underway in Myanmar’s Kokang region as tens of thousands of civilians flee escalating fighting between the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and junta troops.
The displaced individuals, primarily migrant workers, are making their way to Lashio in northern Shan State after resistance forces established escape routes.
The MNDAA has surrounded Laukkai, the capital of the Kokang Self-Administered Zone, as part of their offensive to reclaim control of the border territory.
Construction worker Ko Win Kyi was among those who departed Laukkai Town on November 26, utilizing transportation arranged by employers. However, congestion on the main route forced many to seek alternative paths through forested areas.
According to escapees, MNDAA personnel facilitated safe passage but implemented strict security measures. “The MNDAA soldiers helped arrange all the routes that we can go through safely to reach Lashio Township.
But they confiscated our mobile phones, and they destroyed them in front of us for security reasons. And we were not allowed to look sideways while we were going through the forest,” Ko Win Kyi reported.
By November 28, accommodations throughout Lashio had reached capacity, with thousands more still en route. The displaced population includes workers from various regions including Ayerwaddy, Bago, Mandalay, and Sagaing.
MNDAA spokesperson Li Jar Wen acknowledged the scale of the evacuation, stating, “The roads were jammed with cars and crowds. We couldn’t count how many precisely, but there were tens of thousands of people. And we were doing our best to ensure their security.”
Meanwhile, hundreds of ethnic Kokang civilians remain stranded near the China-Myanmar border. Video evidence shows Chinese border police deploying tear gas against these individuals when they approached a border fence on November 25.
The footage, which has circulated widely online, depicts displaced persons pleading with Chinese authorities not to use force against them.
Li Jar Wen described the precarious situation facing these border communities: “They are our Kokang ethnic people, and their situation is still very bad.
They have no food, blankets and not even enough water.” The group had reportedly relocated from one border area (point 125) to another (point 127) due to approaching artillery fire.
The MNDAA has issued warnings to Laukkai residents since November 18, advising them to avoid military government facilities and encouraging Chinese nationals to return to China.