Thousands of refugees fled from Myanmar to Thailand this week amid deadly clashes between rebels and army, led by the military regime that seized power two years ago.

Officials said that more than 9,000 terrified residents fled due to an eruption of bloody clashes raging since Monday between the Karen National Liberation Army, the People's Defence Force and the Myanmar Army and Border Guard Forces (BGF) near the military's base.

The refugees were temporarily housed in six safe shelters located in the Mae Sot and Mae Rama districts, where local authorities, police, soldiers, and volunteers have provided them with food, water, and medicine while ensuring that security was maintained.

Government and private sector organisations have been distributing supplies to the refugees and setting up field kitchens to provide meals and water three times a day to the refugees in the safe shelters. Additionally, medical teams have been dispatched to treat sick patients.

Field doctors and volunteer rescue staff were checking the health of children and elderly refugees to prevent them from suffering from heat stroke due to the hot weather.

On Friday morning April 7, around 1,000 Karen refugees returned back across the border to their country after the sound of gunfire slightly eased up. The returning refugees were provided with food and water supplies, and were safeguarded by soldiers and local authorities until they safely crossed the river by boat.

The remaining 8,000 refugees have chosen to stay in Thailand due to the uncertainty of the situation, and they are being protected by soldiers, police, and local authorities in 13 shelters and along the border.

Thais living near the Moei River in the Mae Sot and Mae Rama districts of Tak province have reported feeling unsafe due to the sound of gunfire and explosives being heard clearly, prompting them to closely monitor the situation.

At least one Karen soldier was killed and eight others were injured during the conflict on April 5, while there were no reports of casualties from the Myanmar army side.

Refugee Kyi, aged 45, said that he and other Karen villagers had to escape from their village and cross the river in order to survive. He expressed his gratitude towards the Thai people and authorities for providing food, water, and temporary safe shelter to the Karen people.

Kyi stated that he and his family would return home as soon as the situation had settled as they were concerned about the property left behind in their home.

Fighting between the armed militias and the Burmese military has intensified amid the political turmoil in Myanmar caused by the ousting of former leader Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021.

Several months of protests erupted across Myanmar, also known as Burma, but hundreds of civilians were killed amid forceful crackdowns. The army has since regained control through ongoing intimidation and arrests but the country remains divided and rebel groups clash regularly with state soldiers in a protracted civil war.

Thousands of Burmese refugees fled to Thailand this week amid deadly clashes between rebels and the state army, which seized power with a coup two years ago.

Officials said that more than 9,000 terrified residents fled due to an eruption of bloody clashes raging since Monday between the Karen National Liberation Army, the People's Defence Force and the Myanmar Army and Border Guard Forces (BGF) near the military's base.

The refugees were temporarily housed in six safe shelters located in the Mae Sot and Mae Rama districts, where local authorities, police, soldiers, and volunteers have provided them with food, water, and medicine while ensuring that security was maintained.

Government and private sector organisations have been distributing supplies to the refugees and setting up field kitchens to provide meals and water three times a day to the refugees in the safe shelters. Additionally, medical teams have been dispatched to treat sick patients.

Field doctors and volunteer rescue staff were checking the health of children and elderly refugees to prevent them from suffering from heat stroke due to the hot weather.

On Friday morning April 7, around 1,000 Karen refugees returned back across the border to their country after the sound of gunfire slightly eased up. The returning refugees were provided with food and water supplies, and were safeguarded by soldiers and local authorities until they safely crossed the river by boat.

The remaining 8,000 refugees have chosen to stay in Thailand due to the uncertainty of the situation, and they are being protected by soldiers, police, and local authorities in 13 shelters and along the border.

Thais living near the Moei River in the Mae Sot and Mae Rama districts of Tak province have reported feeling unsafe due to the sound of gunfire and explosives being heard clearly, prompting them to closely monitor the situation.

At least one Karen soldier was killed and eight others were injured during the conflict on April 5, while there were no reports of casualties from the Myanmar army side.

Refugee Kyi, aged 45, said that he and other Karen villagers had to escape from their village and cross the river in order to survive. He expressed his gratitude towards the Thai people and authorities for providing food, water, and temporary safe shelter to the Karen people.

Kyi stated that he and his family would return home as soon as the situation had settled as they were concerned about the property left behind in their home.

Fighting between the armed militias and the Burmese military has intensified amid the political turmoil in Myanmar caused by the ousting of former leader Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021.

Several months of protests erupted across Myanmar, also known as Burma, but hundreds of civilians were killed amid forceful crackdowns. The army has since regained control through ongoing intimidation and arrests but the country remains divided and rebel groups clash regularly with state soldiers in a protracted civil war.