Cha Lu Aung — A 5-year-old girl was wounded by a stray bullet as fighting flared between the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army (AA) near a mountain range west of Khami Chaung village in Arakan State’s Buthidaung Township on April 24, said village administrator U Win Maung.

The victim, identified as Ma Nu Nu Khaing from Khami Chaung village, was reportedly hit by the bullet while she was sitting in her house, the village leader said.

“Fierce hostilities occurred between the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army near Oak Taung and Khami Chaung villages at about 1 p.m. today, triggering exchanges of fire by both sides,” he said on Friday.

“The child sustained a gunshot wound to her abdomen but her condition is not considered life-threatening,” he added. “I don’t know which troops opened fire on the village and the fighting lasted about an hour and stopped at about 2 p.m.”

On February 13, 21 students were injured when an errant artillery shell struck a school in Khami Chaung village while classes were in session.

Fighting between the Tatmadaw and the AA has resulted in hundreds of civilian casualties in Arakan State over the past year, including numerous women and children.