The conflict in Myanmar’s Karen (Kayin) State has shifted sharply throughout 2025. Since the 2021 coup, Ethnic Armed Organizations have intensified their struggle for autonomy against the State Administration Council (SAC), with the Thai–Myanmar border becoming a key battleground. In the spring, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the armed wing of the Karen National Union (KNU), launched coordinated offensives that reshaped control over several strategic areas.
A major milestone came on 28 May 2025, when the KNLA captured a crucial hilltop SAC base that had long enabled the junta to block civilian movement and supply routes. Its fall symbolized the resistance’s rising momentum and briefly opened possibilities for safer travel, improved aid access, and hopes of return for displaced families.
But the following months revealed how fragile these gains were. Since June, SAC forces have escalated airstrikes, drone attacks, and long-range bombardments, reclaiming pockets of territory lost in the spring. Areas that had seemed newly accessible quickly became unsafe again, forcing civilians near frontlines and transport routes to flee repeatedly, sometimes within weeks.
These shifting frontlines have pushed many Karen families toward the Thai border, where safety is limited but the threat of bombardment is lower. In these zones, communities have created temporary boarding schools and improvised learning spaces to preserve some stability for children. These fragile structures—often exposed to the elements—reflect both determination and daily precarity.
At places like the Kanele Htaw IDP Camp, populations rise and fall as people weigh the risks of returning home against the realities of long-term displacement. For many in bamboo shelters or forest camps, renewed drone surveillance and sudden airstrikes make return impossible. Even areas once considered safe corridors after the KNLA’s gains now face inconsistent and hazardous humanitarian access.
For civilians in Karen State, hope and hardship continue side by side. The victories of last spring highlighted the resilience of the Karen people; the months since have exposed the heavy price of holding ground against a military with overwhelming airpower. As 2025 draws to a close, the lives of millions still hinge on every shift in territory, every strike from above, and each fragile refuge carved out along the border.
This former State Administration Council military base, home to 120mm artillery, drone jammers, and snipers, was taken by the KNLA at Kanele on May 28, 2025. Karen State, Myanmar
In Myanmar's Karen State, KNLA soldiers pause in June 2025, amidst intense battles for key border areas.
The school kitchen, with formal schools under threat from air and ground attacks, Karen families have relocated their children’s education to makeshift sites near the Thai border, where improvised classrooms provide a fragile sense of safety. Htee Baw Kaw, Karen State, Myanmar, October 2025
With formal schools under threat from air and ground attacks, Karen families have relocated their children’s education to makeshift sites near the Thai border, where improvised classrooms provide a fragile sense of safety. Htee Baw Kaw, Karen State, Myanmar, October 2025
This former State Administration Council military base, home to 120mm artillery, drone jammers, and snipers, was taken by the KNLA at Kanele on May 28, 2025. Karen State, Myanmar
In Myanmar's Karen State, KNLA soldiers pause in June 2025, amidst intense battles for key border areas.
Karen families, internally displaced by relentless airstrikes and junta attacks, find temporary shelter here in Htaw IDP camp, only a short distance from the village they fled. Kanele, Karen State, Myanmar, May 2025
Children fetching water in the river, Karen State, Myanmar, May 2025
Karen displaced families work to establish agriculture on a cleared hillside. Htaw IDP camp in Kanele, Karen State, Myanmar, May 2025
The KNLA secured approximately 50 prisoners of war after taking the Junta military base at Kanele on May 28, 2025. Karen State, Myanmar
Three days after its capture by the KNLA on May 28, 2025, smoke still rises from the partly destroyed Junta military base at Kanele. Karen State, Myanmar
Lae Gho IDP camp in Karen State, Myanmar, October 2025
The KNLA's multi-day battle culminated on May 28, 2025, with the capture of a hilltop Junta base that had controlled the Kanele area. Karen State, Myanmar
KNLA soldiers getting ready to go to the frontline. Kanele zone, Karen State, Myanmar, June 2025
Children from the Karen ethnic minority, Karen State, Myanmar, June 2025
The KNLA's multi-day battle culminated on May 28, 2025, with the capture of a hilltop Junta base that had controlled the Kanele area. Karen State, Myanmar
KNLA soldiers getting ready to go to the frontline. Kanele zone, Karen State, Myanmar, June 2025
On May 28, 2025, the KNLA seized control of a key Junta military base at Kanele, turning the tide in the region. Karen State, Myanmar
These Karen children, having fled violence, now navigate life in an IDP camp. Kanele, Karen State, Myanmar, 2025
A man from the Karen ethnic minority in Myanmar, his face telling a story of resilience. Htee Baw, Karen State, Myanmar, May 2025
This former State Administration Council military base, home to 120mm artillery, drone jammers, and snipers, was taken by the KNLA at Kanele on May 28, 2025. Karen State, Myanmar
The visible destruction and lingering smoke three days after the KNLA took the Kanele base on May 28, 2025, show the intensity of the fighting. Karen State, Myanmar
A Karen women weaving traditional clothes, Htee Baw Kaw, Karen State, Myanmar, October 2025
Karen families, internally displaced by relentless airstrikes and junta attacks, find temporary shelter here in Htaw IDP camp, only a short distance from the village they fled. Kanele, Karen State, Myanmar, May 2025
Karen child displaced by the ongoing civil war in Myanmar. Htee Baw Kaw, Karen State, Myanmar, October 2025
On May 28, 2025, the KNLA seized control of a key Junta military base at Kanele, turning the tide in the region. Karen State, Myanmar
Two Karen National Liberation Army soldiers sit inside a simple shelter, with one weapon visible, taking a moment of rest amid ongoing clashes in Karen State. Wale, Karen State, Myanmar, October 2025
School under contruction, children's education continues here, in a school relocated close to the Thai border to escape airstrikes. Schools and clinics are tragically and systematically targeted by the military regime in revolutionary-controlled territories. Htee Baw Kaw, Karen State, Myanmar, May 2025
In Myanmar's Karen State, KNLA soldiers pause in June 2025, amidst intense battles for key border areas.
Karen children playing before classes start in a riverside shelter near Thailand that now serves as both home and classroom for displaced Karen children whose villages and schools have been repeatedly bombed by junta forces. Htee Baw Kaw, Karen State, Myanmar, September 2025
The remnants of a Junta military base at Kanele, partly set ablaze and destroyed during its capture by the KNLA on May 28, 2025. Karen State, Myanmar
The school kitchen, with formal schools under threat from air and ground attacks, Karen families have relocated their children’s education to makeshift sites near the Thai border, where improvised classrooms provide a fragile sense of safety. Htee Baw Kaw, Karen State, Myanmar, October 2025
With formal schools under threat from air and ground attacks, Karen families have relocated their children’s education to makeshift sites near the Thai border, where improvised classrooms provide a fragile sense of safety. Htee Baw Kaw, Karen State, Myanmar, October 2025
Children washing school mats in a river marking the border with Thailand. This riverside shelter now serves as both home and classroom for displaced Karen children whose villages and schools have been repeatedly bombed by junta forces. Htee Baw Kaw, Karen State, Myanmar, October 2025
