Some military families were urgently evacuated from the increasingly war-torn Kachin State starting on 13 March utilizing civil aircraft, according to junta sources.
On the same day, families from military communities were reportedly being urgently transferred from Myitkyina Airport in Myitkyina Town in Kachin State to Mandalay and Yangon airports.
An airport source mentioned that the use of civil aviation from Myitkyina for relocation was prompted by attacks with short-range rockets on the Myitkyina Military Air Force base in the second week of March by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA).
“They are provided with a separate luggage carrier for their belongings. Their relocation appears similar to official family relocations,” a local source said.
Flight records and on-the-ground video reports indicated at least ten round-trip flights, despite previous flights only running round-trips between Yangon-Myitkyina, Mandalay-Myitkyina, and Myitkyina-Putao.
According to travelers, military families arriving at Mandalay airport were met and picked up at the arrival point.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the relocating of military families consists of family members of officers from the military hospital, military academy, and the Northern Military Command.
An anonymous source from the Northern Military Command said, “Only the families of officers are being urgently relocated. Trust is scarce here. The troops are monitoring each other closely. There’s a lack of reliable information sharing among them. Doctors from the military hospital are particularly moving their families, and they are also working at external clinics. It’s not just the revolutionary groups keeping tabs on this; we’re also keeping an eye on each other.”
Information gathered by Mizzima’s on-the-ground news team has confirmed the relocation of high-ranking officials’ families, as well as military doctors, including pediatricians and general practitioners who work part-time at renowned public hospitals in Myitkyina, such as Yin Sein Hospital, Dr. San Myint, Aye Thukha, and Malizup hospitals, to attend to patients.
Despite the current reopening of Myitkyina Airport, purchasing new flight tickets is currently posing challenges. Flight ticket sales sources indicate that purchasing tickets may be possible in April.
Myanmar Airways International (MAI), Air KBZ, and Mann Yadanarpon Airlines are operating daily flights to Myitkyina Airport.
While some airlines are still operating flights to Putao airport from Myitkyina Airport, all airlines have indefinitely suspended the Bhamo trip route due to recent resistance attacks that resulted in the destruction of part of its runway.