Last July 25, close to 700 Karen people from at least four villages in the Myawaddy township of Karen state fled to Phop Phra town in Tak province, Thailand.  The Karen Information Centre (KIC) reported that there has been sporadic bombing since July 10 and several Karen civilians have already been severely affected.  They have now fled because of fear of increased clashes between the Burmese army and the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA).  It is widely known that talks between the two groups over the military regime’s border guard force plan (BGF) were unsuccessful.  The Karen Women’s Organization (KWO) reported that most of the villagers who fled were women and children and Thai authorities have not allowed them free access to Thailand since severe fighting has not yet taken place.  Since it is the rainy season, it will be very difficult for these displaced persons who are now without food, clean drinking water and protective covering, according to a social worker who works on the border.  They urgently need our assistance.  We appeal to your generosity to join us in providing help to the Karen refugees.

To read more about the news, visit: “http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=19060” http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=19060

WEAVE is fundraising support for the new arrivals of Karen in Tak province.  For your donations, please contact us at [email protected].