Fighting in Hpakant halts jade mining, residents face livelihood crisis

By Admin 12 Feb 2026

DMG Newsroom

12 February 2026, Hpakant, Kachin State

Local residents in Kachin State’s Hpakant Township are facing a severe livelihood crisis as months of fighting continue between Myanmar’s military regime and a coalition led by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA).

Clashes have intensified in and around Hpakant town since January 2026, with residents reporting daily fighting. Road blockades and the complete shutdown of businesses have hit working-class families particularly hard.

“The fighting in Hpakant has been intense for over a month, although clashes have been ongoing for more than three months. People are suffering greatly,” a Hpakant resident told DMG. “Many have been displaced and are struggling to find food. Due to the heavy fighting, all jade mining operations have stopped.”

Fierce clashes are continuing near several wards and villages across Hpakant Township between junta forces and KIA-led allied troops.

Residents said the military regime has blocked all entry and exit routes to the township, bringing the jade mining to a standstill. Chinese jade traders have reportedly left the area amid the instability.

Locals also said the situation has been compounded by reports that both junta forces and the KIA have forcibly recruited civilians as porters, further endangering residents and limiting their ability to earn a living.

In February alone, at least four civilians were killed and eight others injured in the fighting, according to residents. A large number of people have been forced to flee their homes.

“The number of internally displaced persons is very high. As the villages are large, it is difficult to provide an exact figure. Some people are staying with relatives, while others are sheltering at monasteries and churches,” another resident said.

Hpakant, a major hub for jade and gold mining, is home to a diverse population of migrant workers from across Myanmar.

Residents have expressed growing concern over possible food shortages as the military regime’s blockade of the township continues.