A civilian was shot dead and another injured during intense fighting between multiple warring ethnic armed organizations in northern Shan State.

Loung Ba Nyan, who’s helping the villagers in Namtu Township, where the shootings happened, told SHAN a 50-year-old woman was killed on March 1 during clashes between Restoration Council of Shan State and combined forces Shan State Progress Party and Ta’ang National Liberation Army.

The second woman shot on March 3 is in critical condition at Lashio Public Hospital.

According to locals, fighting between the ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) has been breaking out near Mangsan village.

Another woman from the area was injured from shrapnel after a shell exploded on the same day the older woman was killed, according to Loung Ba Nyan. She’s receiving medical care in Lashio.

On February 27, a Buddhist monk was shot in the leg. Fortunately, the monk only suffered a minor injury. However, a pregnant woman in her eighth month and a man were killed when a shell struck their home in Kyaukme Township on February 15. The bomb injured six others and damaged several homes in the village.

According to civil society organizations (CSOs) helping villagers affected by the conflict, over 1,000 have been displaced in Kyaukme and Namtu townships. CSOs are struggling to send food rations to about 180 civilians trapped in the conflict zone near Tawt San village, in Kyaukme Township.