An artillery shell fell on a pre-school building that provided shelter for internally displaced people (IDPs) taking refuge on the evening of November 15, in the western part of Demoso Township in Karenni state. In that incident, a 5-year-old child was killed and a total of 8 people, including 2 children, were injured when shrapnel hit an IDP family.

"At around 5:30 PM yesterday, three artillery shells were fired. The first two fell outside the building. The children were afraid and tried to run away, but their father stopped them. He told them not to run. Unfortunately the third shell fell directly on the roof and everyone inside was hurt”, a local said.

The 5-year-old child who suffered the most serious injuries died of bleeding on the way to the hospital.

“A family of nine were sheltering in the preschool, and all suffered injuries. 4 of them were in serious condition, while 5 were only slightly injured. Among the 4 seriously injured, one child died. Their father was also in critical condition. 3 family members are now in hospital”, the local told Kantarawaddy Times.

The IDP family was sheltering at the preschool after fleeing Kone Thar Village in Demoso Township, as fighting intensified.

Residents claimed the artillery shell that hit the preschool was fired by the Demoso-based 102nd Infantry Division.

“It is believed that the 102nd Infantry Division fired artillery yesterday evening. The  xplosions were very loud. It is believed that they targeted the west side of Demoso. They fired at least five times, but I couldn’t say where the rest of the shells fell”, a local commented.

According to figures obtained by the Kantarawaddy Times, at least 20 civilians were injured and 1 killed in Karenni State between November 1 and 15 due to artillery bombardments by the Military Council.