6 civilians mostly internally displaced people (IDP)s from eastern parts of Demoso Township in Karenni (Kayah) State, were wounded in a Military Council’s artillery strike on January 24th, according to locals. These people suffered injuries after the Demoso-based 102nd Light Infantry Division started shelling an IDP camp and residential areas, some witnesses said.

A person who witnessed the artillery attack on the IDP camp reported, “In each attack, we saw about 4 shells falling and exploding. When the artillery was firing, everyone was crouching in fear, and some ran away, but did not escape completely. Even some people hiding in ditches were slightly injured. Dogs and cattle were also hit. The number of injured was 5, and they suffered injuries on their legs, hands and waists”.

There were 5 injuries at the IDP camp, another resident was also hurt in the village. So many rounds were fired, that people were injured, before they even had time to run away. Witnesses confirmed that a 70-year-old elderly man was among the injured.

Although there is no fighting in the region, the Military Council launched frequent artillery bombardments on IDP camps and villages arbitrarily, causing many residents to flee.

“ When artillery fire became more intense, they couldn’t stay in their villages anymore. It would be easy for people who have their own car to get away , but most of them don’t own cars. So they have to flee carrying only a few very important possessions. They had to leave behind other assets, that weren’t something they needed urgently”, a person helping the IDPs told Kantarawaddy Times.

More than 1000 people, including students, have taken refuge in the forests due to the almost continuous artillery fire by the Military Council since January 22nd. Locals also said that 9 civilians were injured by Military Council’s barrages between January 22nd and 25th.