Weeklong fighting in central Myanmar kills 7 civilians
Fighting erupted last Wednesday when the anti-military forces in Chin State launched an assault on the junta soldiers
Ongoing military bombardment in central Myanmar has resulted in the deaths of seven civilians as reported by local sources to Radio Free Asia.
The conflict began last week when opposition forces in Chin state launched an attack on the military forces in Tedim township, near the border with Kale township.
Kale township in the Sagaing Region has been a frequent target of military assaults in recent months.
Last week, a drone incident, believed to be accidental, caused injuries to 13 children when the drone’s explosives detonated near a village monastery.
In a separate incident in September, a junta shell caused the deaths of four family members in the township.
A resident of Kale, speaking anonymously for safety reasons, informed RFA on Monday that seven individuals had been killed by heavy artillery in various neighborhoods of Kale City, the township’s capital.
The whereabouts of six other victims remain unknown because of the ongoing conflict.
The resident mentioned that one person was killed and another injured on Feb. 25, prompting residents of the Sin Ywar neighborhood to seek refuge.
The military shelling has caused significant property damage and numerous injuries in the area.
All the casualties reported were residents of Kale city. The full extent of injuries sustained by civilians and soldiers is yet to be determined.
Approximately 5,000 individuals from Kale city have fled to safety with the assistance of aid workers supporting internally displaced people.
Kale city was the first to resist the military coup in February 2021, with civilians arming themselves with traditional Tumee rifles in May.
This resistance followed a deadly massacre on March 27, 2021, where junta forces killed 110 people countrywide.
According to the 2019 General Administration Department data of Myanmar, Kale township is home to over 340,000 individuals, nearly half of whom are ethnic Chins.
Source: Newsroom
