TUESDAY February 7, 2023: 'MYANMARS DESCENT' by award winning SOPA photographers Kaung Zaw Hein and Chaiwat Subprasom in Myanmar: Over the past 2 years since the coup, the military junta has ruled Myanmar with extreme brutality, driving the country's economy into the ground and creating a public health and refugee nightmare. The junta has torched villages, launched airstrikes on civilians and detained anyone suspected of supporting pro-democracy movements. The guerrillas fighting the junta, many are from Myanmar's heartland, establishment the People's Defense Force (PDF) and declared a 'people's defensive war'. According to Amnesty.org the escalating violence throughout Myanmar has displaced more than 284,700 people, including over 76,000 children. Welcome to 'MYANMARS DESCENT'
© zReportage.com Story of the Week #875: TUESDAY February 7, 2023: 'MYANMARS DESCENT' by award winning SOPA photographers Kaung Zaw Hein and Chaiwat Subprasom in Myanmar: Over the past 2 years since the coup, the military junta has ruled Myanmar with extreme brutality, driving the country's economy into the ground and creating a public health and refugee nightmare. The junta has torched villages, launched airstrikes on civilians and detained anyone suspected of supporting pro-democracy movements. The guerrillas fighting the junta, many are from Myanmar's heartland, establishment the People's Defense Force (PDF and declared a 'people's defensive war'. According to Amnesty.org the escalating violence throughout Myanmar has displaced more than 284,700 people, including over 76,000 children. Welcome to 'MYANMARS DESCENT'

A villager walks near a dead horse that was killed in the cross fire during a gun battle the ruling Junta and rebel force's. Six days of fighting between the security and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) have destroyed almost all the houses in a Konethar village in Namhsan Township, northern Shan State.
© Mai Thomas/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

A village elder standing in front of the village school that was destroyed by the junta after heavy aircraft gunfire during a raid that destroyed houses and killed livestock in Konethar village in Namhsan Township, northern Shan State.
© Mai Thomas/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

Karen fighters secure the area after the Burmese Army Tatmadaw troops attacked a village. Due to the fighting that occurred after the coup, the Karenni people left their villages and now they are living in the Sothae IDP camp which shelters around 1,661 people.
© Kaung Zaw Hein/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

A Karenni Defense Force (KNDF) soldier ihides behind a tree while patrolling the jungle during the armed conflict with the Burmese government. The KNDF is an armed insurgent group in Myanmar formed after the Myanmar coup d'etat.
© Kaung Zaw Hein/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

A Karenni Defense Force (KNDF) soldier on guard with weapon aimed while patrolling the jungle during the armed conflict with the Burmese government Army Tatmadaw. The KNDF is an armed insurgent group and seen as a terrorist organization by the ruling military Junta.
© Kaung Zaw Hein/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

A Burmese Army Tatmadaw helicopter gunship flies across the sky after bombing the headquarters of Karen Defense Force (KNDF). The ruling Junta sees the KNDF as a terrorist organization.
© Kaung Zaw Hein/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

A Karenni National Defense Force (KNDF) soldier moves through the dense jungle foliage during the armed conflict with the Burmese Army Tatmadaw. The Karenni Nationalities Defense Force is an armed insurgent group in Myanmar opposed to the ruling military Junta.
© Kaung Zaw Hein/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

A Karenni Defense Force (KNDF) soldier on guard while patrolling the jungle during the armed conflict with the Burmese government Army Tatmadaw. The KNDF is an armed insurgent group in Myanmar formed after the 2021 Myanmar coup d'etat.
© Kaung Zaw Hein/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

A camp resident collects water by bucket for cooking and cleaning. The people sheltering at the camp face many difficulties including limited sources of food, health care, and minimal education for their children.
© Kaung Zaw Hein/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

A sixty year old grandmother and refugee shelters at the Sothae IDPs Camp in Karenni state, Myanmar. Due to the fighting that occurred after the coup, the Karenni people fled their villages and now housed temporarily in the camp.
© Kaung Zaw Hein/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

A volunteer with NGO 'Nway Oo Sayy Aid' (Spring Medical Bag) measures a sick refugee child's oxygen level at the IDP camp. The aid group takes care of the Karen refugees in Kayah State IDP camp, where around 300 people are sheltered.
© Kaung Zaw Hein/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

Refugee children play a game of soccer in the mud at the Sothae IDP Camp in Karenni State, Myanmar. There are around 1,661 people living in the camp who fled from 8 villages around Phruso Township.
© Kaung Zaw Hein/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

Around 1,661 people, including 162 children under the age of 5 and 187 elderly people aged 60 and over shelter at the Sothae IDP camp. Due to the fighting that occurred after the coup, the Karenni people fled their villages and shelter at the camp where they are preparing to farm the land to grow food for survival.
© Kaung Zaw Hein/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

Members of the Mandalay People's Defense forces (PDF) carrying wooden guns take part in a training exercise on the obstacle course at the groups hidden camp. The military Junta designated the PDF as a terrorist organization.
© David Mmr/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

Members of the Mandalay People's Defense forces take part in training at their hidden camp. The People's Defense force (PDF) is the armed wing of Myanmar's National Unity Government (NUG), which was formed following the Coup d'etat in 2021 and the ruling Junta designated them a terrorist organization.
© David Mmr/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

Wooden training guns used by the People's Defense force for training lean on a thatched building at the camp.
© David Mmr/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

Members of the Mandalay People's Defense forces carrying wooden guns take part in a training exercise at the groups hidden camp. They oppose the current military Junta, claiming to be the legitimate government of Myanmar, and the military Junta designated them as a terrorist organization.
© David Mmr/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

Members of the Mandalay People's Defense carrying wooden guns, take a break and eat food at their camp between training exercises. The military Junta designated the PDF as a terrorist organization.
© David Mmr/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

A Karen soldier rest in a hammock next to heavy weaponry in Kaw Thoo Le village and Karen National Defense headquarters near the border with Thailand. Fighting has intensified since the Coup led by General Min Aung Hlaing which puttee Junta in Power.
© Chaiwat Subprasom/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

Young female fighters with Karen National Defence Force (KNDF) soldiers ride on a vehicle in the jungle between fighting with the Burmese Army Tatmadaw.
© Kaung Zaw Hein/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire

Karen National Difference Organizer soldiers opposed to the ruling military Junta stand guard with weapons at the ready at Kaw Thoo Le village. The location is also the KNDO Headquarters and near the border with Thailand. Fighting has intensified since the Coup led by General Min Aung Hlaing.
© Chaiwat Subprasom/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire