Artillery shells have struck Kachin State’s capital, Myitkyina, for two consecutive days, damaging civilian homes, a church building, and some vehicles, with residents reporting that a woman was among those affected.
On the morning around 6am on 4 December, artillery shell hit and damaged a building in Myo Thit Gyi Ward of Myitkyina. On 5 December, another shell landed and exploded in Yar Dar Kaung Ward (B) on the west side of Tat Kone Ward, according to local residents.
One Myitkyina resident said: “The artillery shell hit around midnight. About five minutes later, another shell landed. A car near the Ra Wan Dam AG Church was also hit. Some houses were damaged as well. Many structures were affected, including brick walls. One person was slightly injured around the waist and eyes by shrapnel.”
On 4 December, after the Nam Pawng Airbase was hit with rockets and shelling, the Northern Command
reportedly fired back indiscriminately, hitting a building behind the Paragu Clinic in Myo Thit Kyi Ward, according to residents.
On the night of 5 December, the sudden explosions damaged several homes in Yar Dar Kaung Ward (B), with locals unable to identify which group was responsible for the attack.
A local who visited the bombing site said: “They say they are artillery shells. I went to take a look. The damage is quite bad.”
Since March, intense fighting has continued between the military council troops and the combined troops of Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and People’s Defense Forces (PDFs), with artillery shells frequently landing within Myitkyina.
In the last week of August, artillery shells also hit Shwe Nyaung Pin and Kyet Paung Chan Wards of Myitkyina, damaging some homes.
Sent by KNG