Following a series of attack on Shan State Army (SSA) Task Force 701 base on Sino-Burma border by the Burma Army two weeks ago, which sent thousands of refugees to China, although the fight was over, people are still fearful to return home as they distrust the army, said local news sources from Namkham.

A briefing paper jointly published earlier this month by the Netherlands-based think tank groups has asserted that new ceasefires that have been signed since 2011 have further facilitated land grabbing in conflict-affected areas where large development projects in resource-rich ethnic regions have already taken place.

It is reported that a series of heavy storms has swept dozens of villages in Kunhing Township, southern Shan State, which turned many houses, monasteries and schools to debris.

The storm first hit the Kunhing Township on 30 April, then 10 and 12 May, altogether 3 times which swept a total of 75 houses, said local news sources from Kunhing.

Shan State Army Task Force 701 requests Chinese authorities to provide temporary shelter for refugees, who have fled due to the recent series of attacks by the Burma Army that had sent thousands across the border.

In April, Myanmar Post and Telecommunication (MPT) unveiled a 1,500 Kyat (less than $ 2) worth CDMA mobile SIM to the public in the country and has reached the countryside recently but the costs has risen many folds, according to local news sources.

Displaced People Assistance Committee, Tangyan Township, Northern Shan State said that it would build shelters for refugees.

“We will build shelters at Wan Wiang quarter, Ward (5) at the former Mong Kao bus station. We will build them in barracks form but they have to use toilets and kitchens together. We estimated that we would aid 70 households. Some of them will be living with their relatives. For them we supported the construction of huts. The committee has already built 4 huts for the rest and those huts include kitchens and toilets. The cost for one hut is about 400,000 kyat ($450),” an aid worker for refugees, Sai Kher, told SHAN.

In response to Myanmar Online News’ claims that Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) has ordered Burmese in Monghsu Township to move out the town or face arrest, is groundless and faulty, the SSA official abruptly retaliated.

Shan farmers from Namkham, a Sino-Burma border town in northern Shan State, are voicing concern over the gas pipelines linking to China that have appeared to have some holes or loosely connected, according to local news sources.