WEEKLY DISPATCH | Sep 16, 2024 | Free Burma Rangers

May 8, 2025

WEEKLY BURMA SUMMARY

A man stands in the rubble of Pa Lan Taung Hospital after it was destroyed by a Burma military airstrike.

Rangers Provide Hope and Help to Those Fleeing Violence

As central Karen State continues to be a focal point of Burma military attacks, Rangers provide food assistance and medical aid to over 2000 IDPs there. Rangers deliver 3000 gallons of fresh water to IDP communities in Karenni State as well as training 100 children in survival techniques and first-aid. 

NORTHERN KAREN STATE

Left: IDPs in Hsaw Htee Township receive food from FBR teams.

Right: A home burns in Law Mu Thae Village after a Burma military airstrike. 

In Kler Lwee Htoo District on Apr. 29, a Burma military jet bombed the village of Law Mu Thae (Ler Doh Township). One house was burned down but no one was injured.


On May 2, an FBR team provided food and a GLC program for IDPs located in southern Hsaw Htee Township.


In Mu Traw District on May 4, between the hours of 1339 and 1425, a Burma military Y-12 plane dropped a total of 17 bombs in the area of Htee Shee Hta and Taw Lu Pla Man villages (Ler Mu Plaw Village Tract, Luthaw Township). No one was injured in the attack.

CENTRAL KAREN STATE

Left: Rangers play games with the children during a GLC program in Win Ka Village.

Right: A destroyed hospital in Pwa Gaw Village after a Burma military jet attack.

Rangers served over 930 people through Good Life Clubs (GLC), provided 450 bags of rice to 2000 IDPs, and provided medical support to resistance soldiers on the front lines under heavy fire. An airstrike destroyed a hospital and 11 houses in central Karen State. 


In Paan Township, Doo Tha Htoo District, a Burma military jet attacked Pwa Gaw (Pa Lan Taung) Village, targeting the village hospital on May 4. No injuries were reported. Pa Lan Taung Hospital was run by the Myanmar central government before the coup and was the most helpful healthcare facility for the local residents. 


In Kyaikhto Township, Thaton District, on Apr. 25, Kyong Chaung villagers from Hsaw Htee Township, in the neighboring district, were taking shelter in a rubber farm near Khayawe Village due to fighting between the Karen National Union (KNU) Brigade 1 and the Burma Army. At that time, the Burma military attacked the village with drones, killing a 28-year-old woman and injuring a three-year-old child. Village medical officers and Rangers went to the scene to help and collect information.

 

Burma Army units 310 and 207 fired four 120mm mortars into Khayawe Village; three of these exploded and one did not. There were no casualties. On Apr. 28, 30 and May 1, Rangers conducted GLC programs in Ngapyaw Taw Village, Marlar Phue Village, and Kyauk Lone Gyi Village. 739 villagers participated in the program. Rangers supported 11 schools with school packs and provided medical treatment and lunch for all the GLC participants. On Apr. 29, an FBR mission team provided 450 bags of rice to over 2,000 IDPs in need from Khayawe Village, Kyaikhto Township.

 

In Kyondoe (Krutu) Township, Dooplaya District, an armed clash broke out between the Burma military and the combined troops of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) alliance on Apr. 29. A Ranger team was on the front line to provide the resistance group with first aid and medical support. On Apr. 30, in Yae Pu Gyi Village and Chauk Tine Village, Rangers helped KNLA soldiers by moving a KNLA truck which had been targeted by a Burma military drone attack and transported a resistance soldier who was wounded by artillery fire during the battle in Kyondoe to the casualty collection point for further assistance.


From May 1 to 5, Rangers conducted GLC programs in an IDP camp near Htee Hue Than Village and supported the front line resistance soldiers with medical treatment, food, water and essential needs in Nga Tine Village, Pu Tee Gone Village, Yae Pu Gyi Village and Khun Hnit Tine Village. On May 5, KNLA allied forces seized a Burma military camp in Khun Hnit Tine Village and arrested two injured Burma military soldiers. Three KNLA soldiers were wounded during the clashes. Rangers went to the frontline and provided medical care and transported two sick KNLA soldiers from the frontline in Pu Tee Gone Village. In Kawkareik (Kaw Ta Ri) Township, Burma military Y-12 aircraft dropped two bombs, on May 2, into Ka Toe Hta Ywa Thit (Tike Pu) Village. The airstrike wounded two villagers and destroyed 11 houses and one animal shelter. Ka Toe Hta Ywar Thit is a newly built village with 100 households donated by the Nippon Foundation for War IDP. 


Rangers conducted a GLC program on May 4 to 200 IDPs in Win Ka Village and supported them by providing onions, dried chilies, cooking oil, salt, and rice noodles, while also sharing the gospel, offering encouragement, and distributing food to all participants throughout the program. On the same day in Nga Tine Village and Pa Ti Gone Village, a Burma military drone dropped a 120mm bomb, destroying one house in Nga Tine Village. The Burma Army continued to intensify the invasion of KNLA Kawtari Township and Kyondoe Township. As of May 5, the fighting continued between Burma Army and KNLA alliance forces. A Ranger team was at the front line and was prepared to provide medical treatment and along with any necessary support.

KARENNI STATE

Left: Rangers show elementary-aged kids how to tie a tourniquet, a treatment used to stop someone from bleeding to death.

Right: Clean drinking water is not a guarantee for IDPs.

Karenni Rangers provided tarps and potable water to IDPs residing in seven locations throughout Karenni State and trained approximately 100 school children in lifesaving airstrike response skills.


Between April 20 and April 28, Karenni Rangers delivered 51 tarps to five IDP communities. On April 24, Karenni Rangers delivered 1000 gallons of potable water to an IDP community in Loi Nan Pha Township and then on April 26 delivered 2000 gallons to another IDP community in the same township. The same day, Karenni Rangers trained approximately 100 students from Ei Naung Pa Lae school, Loi Pha Township, in taking cover from airstrikes and artillery attacks, early warning and early response, and basic combat first aid.  

SOUTHERN SHAN STATE

Left: Rangers continue treating a wounded resistance soldier as they evacuate him.

Right: Villager home set ablaze by Burma Army mortars. 

The Burma military attacked resistance forces in Moebye with 120mm mortars, suicide drones, and alleged chemical weapons while Karenni Rangers provided medical care and training to resistance forces.


April 18 to 24, Karenni Rangers trained 49 Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) soldiers in combat first aid, casualty carries, and physical fitness. On April 28, the Burma Army 422 Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) initiated an offensive into Moebye, Moebye Township, with a suicide drone attack followed by a Burma military airstrike the folllowing day. On May, 2 LIB 422 troops advanced into Moebye with supporting fire from their 120mm mortars that lit many buildings on fire. On May 3, resistance forces reported that the Burma military attacked them with “Chemical Bombs” as they prepared to counter attack. The resistance counter attack faltered due to Burma military support to the LIB 422 infantry in the form of airstrikes, mortars, and drone jammers that deprived the resistance infantry of drone reconnaissance and supporting drone strikes. Karenni Rangers treated and evacuated wounded from the battle utilizing one armored and one unarmored ambulance.

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