The Karen people of Myanmar face ongoing aggression from the military junta, which has targeted their communities with violence and displacement. The Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and the People's Defense Force (PDF) are central to their resistance, providing a vital defense against the junta's brutal tactics. These forces protect civilians by holding strategic territories and launching counter-offensives to repel attacks on villages.
The KNLA, with decades of experience in guerrilla warfare, embodies the Karen people's determination for autonomy and safety in Karen State. Meanwhile, the PDF, a coalition force united against military oppression across Myanmar, amplifies the resistance through coordinated efforts with ethnic armed organizations like the KNLA. Together, they not only defend their people but also inspire broader solidarity in the fight for justice and democracy in Myanmar. Their resistance symbolizes hope for freedom and self-determination amid oppression.
Karen children in a camp school for internal displaced persons (IDP). Ever since the military coup in Myanmar, the intensity of the conflict has dramatically increased in ethnic minority areas and repeated airstrikes on civilian population have uprooted people in the millions throughout the country. Lae Gho IDP camp in a part of Kayin controlled by the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), Myanmar, September 2023
Oo Poe Hta village, Kayin State, Myammar, September 2023
Soldiers of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, one of the many ethnic armed groups involved in the armed uprising against the military dictatorship. Outpost near the front line in Walay, Kayin State, Myanmar, October 2023
A man of the Karen Burmese ethnic minority uprooted by the year-long conflict in Myanmar. Oo Poe Hta village, Kayin State, Burma, September 2023
Border crossing between Thailand and Myanmar manned by the Myanmar military and its loyal border militia. The crossing is mainly used to transport seafood from Myanmar to Thailand. Payathonzu border crossing, Sanghkla Buri, Thailand, September 2023
Officer of the Karen National Union, one of the many ethnic armed groups involved in the armed uprising against the military dictatorship. Kaw Hlauk near the frontline around the town of Walay in Kayin State, Myanmar, October 2023
A Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) check-point. The KNLA is one of the many ethnic armed groups involved in the armed uprising against the military dictatorship. Karen State, Myanmar, October 2023
Father and his son visiting relatives in a camp for displaced persons in Kayin State. Htee Baw Kaw IDP camp, Karen State, Myanmar, September 2023
Karen children in a camp for internal displaced persons (IDP). Ever since the military coup in Myanmar, the intensity of the conflict has dramatically increased in ethnic minority areas and repeated airstrikes on civilian population have uprooted people in the millions throughout the country. Htee Baw Kaw camp in a part of Kayin controlled by the Karen National Union, Myanmar, September 2023
A commander of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, one of the many ethnic armed groups involved in the armed uprising against the military dictatorship. Outpost near the front line in Walay, Kayin State, Myanmar, October 2023
Karen children in a camp school for internal displaced persons (IDP). Ever since the military coup in Myanmar, the intensity of the conflict has dramatically increased in ethnic minority areas and repeated airstrikes on civilian population have uprooted people in the millions throughout the country. Lae Gho IDP camp in a part of Kayin controlled by the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), Myanmar, September 2023
People of the Karen ethnic minority in a camp for internal displaced persons (IDP). Ever since the military coup in Myanmar, the intensity of the conflict has dramatically increased in ethnic minority areas and repeated airstrikes on civilian population have uprooted people in the millions throughout the country. Lae Gho IDP camp in a part of Kayin controlled by the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), Myanmar, October 2023
Soldiers of the Karen National Liberation Army, one of the many ethnic armed groups involved in the armed uprising against the military dictatorship. Kaw Hlauk near the frontline around the town of Walay in Kayin State, Myanmar, October 2023
Patient at a temporary clinic for Karen displaced persons in a Karen village along the Thai border. Lae Gho, Kayin State, Myanmar, October 2023
Karen children in a camp school for internal displaced persons (IDP). Ever since the military coup in Myanmar, the intensity of the conflict has dramatically increased in ethnic minority areas and repeated airstrikes on civilian population have uprooted people in the millions throughout the country. Htee Baw Kaw camp in a part of Kayin controlled by the Karen National Union, Myanmar, September 2023
Karen children in a temorary school for internal displaced persons (IDP). Ever since the military coup in Myanmar, the intensity of the conflict has dramatically increased in ethnic minority areas and repeated airstrikes on civilian population have uprooted people in the millions throughout the country. Oo Poe Hta village in a part of Kayin controlled by the Karen National Union, Myanmar, September 2023
A soldier of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, one of the many ethnic armed groups involved in the armed uprising against the military dictatorship. Outpost near the front line in Walay, Kayin State, Myanmar, October 2023
Karen children in a camp for internal displaced persons (IDP). Ever since the military coup in Myanmar, the intensity of the conflict has dramatically increased in ethnic minority areas and repeated airstrikes on civilian population have uprooted people in the millions throughout the country. Htee Baw Kaw camp in a part of Kayin controlled by the Karen National Union, Myanmar, September 2023
Displaced persons of the Karen minority in their shelter. Lae Gho IDP camp near the Thai border, Kayin State, Burma, September 2023
Soldier of the Karen National Liberation Army, one of the many ethnic armed groups involved in the armed uprising against the military dictatorship. Kaw Hlauk near the frontline around the town of Walay in Kayin State, Myanmar, October 2023
Children playing in a Karen village near the Thai border . Ever since the military coup in Myanmar, the intensity of the conflict has dramatically increased in ethnic minority areas and repeated airstrikes on civilian population have uprooted people in the millions throughout the country. Lae Gho village in a part of Kayin controlled by the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), Myanmar, September 2023
Soldier of the Karen National Liberation Army, one of the many ethnic armed groups involved in the armed uprising against the military dictatorship. Kaw Hlauk near the frontline around the town of Walay in Kayin State, Myanmar, September 2023
Oo Poe Hta village, Kayin State, Myammar, September 2023
Karen children in a camp for internal displaced persons (IDP). Ever since the military coup in Myanmar, the intensity of the conflict has dramatically increased in ethnic minority areas and repeated airstrikes on civilian population have uprooted people in the millions throughout the country. Htee Baw Kaw camp in a part of Kayin controlled by the Karen National Union, Myanmar, September 2023
Lae Gho camp for internal displaced persons near the Thai border. Lae Gho, Karen State, Myanmar, September 2023
Lae Gho camp for internal displaced persons in a part of Kayin controlled by the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), Myanmar, September 2023
Lae Gho village in a part of Kayin controlled by the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), Myanmar, September 2023
Soldier of the Karen National Liberation Army, one of the many ethnic armed groups involved in the armed uprising against the military dictatorship. Kaw Hlauk near the frontline around the town of Walay in Kayin State, Myanmar, October 2023
Elderly Karen woman reading Burmese in a camp for displaced persons where she found shelter with her children and grandchildren. Throughout her long live she has been numerous times forced to flee and seek refuge. Actually she has lived longer as a vulnerable displaced person than in her original home and village. Lae Gho IDP camp in a part of Kayin controlled by the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), Myanmar, September 2023
Soldier of the Karen National Liberation Army, one of the many ethnic armed groups involved in the armed uprising against the military dictatorship. Kaw Hlauk near the frontline around the town of Walay in Kayin State, Myanmar, October 2023
Karen villagers returning from the fields, Lae Gho village in Karen State, Myanmar, October 2023
