Thousands of people have fled the town of Laukkai in northern Myanmar after rebel attacks on military and government sites in the Kokang region caused dozens of casualties including civilians on Monday.

Some 2,000 refugees from Laukkai have poured into 11 relief camps in nearby Lashio, Thibaw, Namthu, Kutkai and Muse following the attacks by the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA).

CGTN visited a monastery in Lashio that has become a shelter for refugees. It is usually occupied by migrant workers, who stay for a few hours or overnight before boarding trucks back to their hometowns. But now the workers have been joined by dozens of displaced families. 

They left town at the occurrence of explosions on Monday, grabbing whatever they could. In the camp, they are given food, water, blankets and medical help supplied by the Red Cross. They say they don’t know when it will be safe to return home.

The MNDAA attacked Laukkai on Monday with small and heavy weapons, destroying residential buildings, hotels and military camps, and burning vehicles. At least five traffic police officers and five civilians were killed. Four other traffic police officers were taken away as hostages. Government troops have been clearing the area following the flare-up.

The clashes followed a series of attacks by local armed groups on government military posts in Shan State on the China-Myanmar border in November. At least eight people were killed and about 30 others injured, including civilians in those attacks.

(With inputs from Xinhua and CGTN's Dave Grunebaum)