Almost 4,000 civilians from Myanmar have fled recent fighting in their country to seek temporary shelter in Thailand’s northernmost province of Mae Hong Son.

The Thai-Myanmar border command centre in Mae Hong Son province said today (Sunday) that the fighting between Myanmar government forces and the Karenni rebels has forced thousands of Myanmar civilians into Sao Hin sub-district in Mae Sariang district and Mae Ki sub-district in Khun Yuam district.

The command centre said that Thai officials have built temporary shelters in the two sub-districts to accommodate the asylum seekers and are providing rice, dried and canned food and drinking water.

The centre also said that security forces are ready to provide safety for Thai people living near the border, in case the fighting spills over onto Thai soil.