On July 5 at 1700 hours, the Burma Army used a drone to drop a bomb on Taw Kyaw Pauk Village, Kler Lwe Htoo District, killing six IDPs and injuring two, including a pregnant woman, who had been sheltering in the village after fleeing their homes. Of the dead, two were children aged six years old and one year old. The parents of the one-year-old were among the dead as well. They leave behind a five-year-old son and the twin brother of the one-year-old who was killed.

In and around Waw Lay Mying Village, Dooplaya District, several attacks and clashes occurred on July 4. At 1010 hours, the Burma Army fired four 120mm artillery shells from the Waw Lay artillery base. The shells exploded in the upper and lower areas of the village, injuring two civilians from the lower area and one from the upper. The injuries included leg, abdomen, back, and head injuries. Many villagers fled towards the Thailand border as a result of the attacks.

Around 1052 hours, clashes occurred between the Burma Army and the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and their allies near the Waw Lay Police Station. During this time, the Burma Army artillery base on Waw Lay Hill fired heavy weapons towards Waw Lay town and nearby villages, causing damage to civilian homes and injuring several residents. Later, at 1710 hours, a Burma Army aircraft flew from Kawkareik and circled six times over areas near Waw Lay, Shwe Aye Myaing, and War Mee Hta. The aircraft dropped 40 bombs during the flight. The next day, on July 5, clashes broke out between 0800 hours and 1630 hours after the Burma Army fired artillery rounds from Waw Lay artillery base into the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) Than Oo Hill Base in Ukereithta Village. 

Throughout the week in Mawtu Village, Dooplaya District, Ranger medics provided care for several local villagers. This included a checkup on a migrant worker working in a maize field suffering from a gastric illness, a villager with hypertension, a villager with an infected wound, and a 17-year-old girl suffering from stomach pain. In Kwee Tah Ho Village, Ranger medics performed check-ups and distributed medicine.

Six Burma Army soldiers based in Thee Khoe Village surrendered themselves and their weapons to KNLA forces on July 6. Burma Army soldiers have frequently surrendered themselves to the KNLA forces in this area, particularly Burma Army conscripted soldiers.

From June 25-30, combined Karenni resistance (KNDF, KA, KNPLF, KNSO, KNPDP) and PDF forces successfully liberated northern Pasaung Town. In between the fighting, our teams also conducted Good Life Club programs for civilians who had fled this town and have been in hiding for more than four years. During this first battle they were over 270 casualties with 26 dead, including one of our Rangers, who died rescuing a landmine victim. Eight other Rangers were also wounded as they rescued people. Rangers operated 14 different medical stations and two major CCP’s, all of which were targeted by Burma military airstrikes. The Burma military military used five different kinds of jet fighters with over 150 airstrikes and over 500 bombs dropped from Y-12 aircraft. A few days later, from July 5-7, the combined Karenni forces attempted to remove the last Burma Army positions in southern Pasaung Town resulting in over 40 wounded and two dead including another Ranger who was wounded while performing medical evacuations. Please pray that the Burma Army‘s heart will change and they will leave Pasaung so the people can go home, and please pray for the families of those who have been lost.

With the help of supporters, we were recently able to purchase a water truck for an IDP camp housing 200 families from Idlib. On June 7, our team in the Middle East received an update from the camp about how useful the truck was proving to be. The camp administration has been using it to fill water tanks, water trees, and respond quickly to fires. They had originally hoped for a fire truck, but on the afternoon of the 7th, the water truck worked just as well when a generator caught fire. The fire was contained, though one man working in the generator room was injured. In addition to helping the camp with a truck, we have been able to assist several urgent medical cases needing surgery and help refugee families cover rent for the month. Thank you for continuing to stand with these families through your prayers and support.