CNI News
11 March 2024
Because of battles breaking out between the Tatmadaw/militia joint forces and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA)/ the People's Defense Force (PDF) joint forces in Kachin State, parts of the trade route have been closed reportedly.
Bhamo-Lweje road and Myitkyina-Bhamo road were closed temporarily on 7th March, 2024 when the battles broke out and the roads were open in the morning of 8th March, 2024 reportedly.
As the battles are taking place in Bhamo and Momauk Townships and it was not easy to take out bananas and sugar canes from Momauk Township, it's been difficult to export them to China from Lweje and it was not convenient to pass northern part of Bhamo but it was just okay in southern part, Ko Hein Zin Tun, a truck driver from Lweje, told CNI News.
" I don't know for sure. I heard the roads were closed, but it was said that this morning they were open. I haven't heard of battles taking place in Momauk. But there is military tension there. We can't take out products from there such as bananas and sugarcanes to be sent to Lweje. We can't go through Thandaung and Myothit. Currently, we are going to Ruili and Lweje. To tell you exactly, we can't go from the northern part of Bhamo, but we can go from the southern part." he said.
Because of battles, Bhamo-Myitkyina Road has been closed; because the Bhamo road has been closed, it's been difficult to transport goods to Lweje border trade; they couldn't go to the banana farms in Hkayan Village, Waingmaw Township, Ko Shan Gyi, a truck driver, told CNI News.
KIA troops
" The battles didn't impact a lot yesterday. But going in and out of banana farms stopped for a moment. It's not easy to go to Hkayan alone. We can go to all the remaining places. As the Myitkyina-Bhamo Road has been closed for the time being, we can't go on that road. If the battles break out in Bhamo, it will be difficult to go to Lweje. We can go to Kan Pite Tee because it is distant from battles." he said.
Because of the fighting on the routes bordering Kachin State and Sagaing Region in February, Myitkyina-Bhamo Road and Mandalay-Bamo Road were closed reportedly.
Because of battles that broke out on 7th March 2024, locals had to be displaced and it was not safe in Bamo, a Bhamo local told CNI News.
" Bhamo-Myitkyina Main Road has been closed and so has Bhamo-Mandalay Road. People from villages where battles broke out came towards Bhamo. But for the time being, our travelling has not been affected because battles took place around the road that was closed firstly. In fact, we are worried. It's not too safe even in our town." he said.
Due to battles breaking out in Kachin State, trade routes are often closed and trucks are also frequently stuck.
