The Myanmar military conducted airstrikes and artillery shelling in Nyaunglebin District, Bago Region, an area under the control of the Kachin National Union (KNU) Brigade (3), on 16-17 October, injuring seven people, including two Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) members and two women, according to KNU and local reports.
The KNU issued a statement on 17 October saying that on the night of 16 October, unprovoked shelling by the Myanmar army Infantry Battalion (264) and army bases in Taw Wi and Yaekyichaung villages hit a civilian house in Choninn village, injuring two women and one man.
On 17 October, the military junta carried out airstrikes on villages in Kyaukkyi Township, injuring a 25-year-old local man and three KNLA soldiers, a KNU statement said.
“One villager was slightly wounded in yesterday’s airstrike. We heard that the three soldiers were seriously injured. We don’t hear airplane sounds now, only artillery fire,” said a local woman.
According to the KNU statement, at least one school, six public buildings and civilian houses were damaged in the two days of attacks by the military council. In addition, schools such as Basic Education High School in Kyaukkyi and Kha Lel Loi Htoo Junior College had to be closed, while the locals was forced to flee to safer areas.
“The house of a friend of mine is among the houses damaged by the air strike. The three localities that were targeted by the air raids are not far from each other. The junta was not fighting with the KNU at that time. They intentionally bombed places where the district offices of the KNU are located,” said a local.
The military council has not commented on these attacks.
Due to the ongoing conflict and human rights violations by the military junta in Kyaukkyi, Mone, and Shwgyin Townships in Nyaunglebin District, more than 240,000 people have been displaced and are struggling to survive and rebuild their lives. A 14 October KNU statement said food and humanitarian aid are urgently needed.
As the total number of displaced people in the seven KNU-controlled areas is nearly 700,000, the KNU and Karen civil society organizations have requested international organizations to provide cross-border assistance to IDPs in KNU-controlled areas.
Sent by KIC.