RFA covers humanitarian crisis in Myanmar’s Kokang region
A view inside a makeshift refugee camp on the Chinese side of the border. Video: Xin Lin/RFA
Radio Free Asia’s Myanmar and Mandarin services extensively covered the humanitarian crisis as refugees flee the conflict-torn Kokang region of Myanmar’s Shan State. Refugees told RFA about poor conditions in camps, and have accused Myanmar government troops of gang rape, beatings and shootings of unarmed civilians, in a bid to terrorize the local population since fighting with ethnic forces began on Feb. 9.
RFA has also covered reports and denials that the Kokang Army are recruiting Chinese nationals as mercenaries in the conflict, as well as tensions with China at the border of the region.