Junta forces torched over dozens of houses during heavy fighting with resistance groups in southern Kalay Township in Sagaing Region.
A local, who asked that his name not be published, told Khonumthung News that Kyauk Pawte Church was one of 52 buildings burned down by the Burma Army (BA) in Thayar Kon from 2 to 4 August.
About 1,500 people, mostly of Chin ethnicity, live in 300 houses in the village, which is located on the road from Kalay to Gangaw near Kalay Technical University.
Most of the villagers were able to flee when the fighting started. Residents of Htauk Kyant, Kyar Inn, Thantha and Tonne Chaung also fled the fighting between armed groups in southern Kalay.
Christian groups and civil society organisations (CSOs) have provided shelter for the displaced people, as well as food, medicine and any other kind of assistance they can offer.
“We fled our village around 10pm and couldn’t take anything with us except some clothes. The churches and and CSOs have given us blankets, food and other things,” the man said, who was sleeping at a church.
About 30 villagers, including women, the elderly and children, weren’t able to escape from Thayar Kon before the army arrived and were held by the soldiers until 6 August, when they were allowed to leave the village.