Five civilians, including two children and their teacher, were killed and eight others wounded after the Burma Army allegedly shelled a village from its base in Myebon Township, located in Burma's Rakhine State. More than 2,000 villagers fled their homes after yesterday's attack on Nyaung Kan village.

 

A resident assisting the internally displaced persons (IDPs) told NMG that six shells struck Nyaung Kan between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. yesterday. The source states that the injured were taken to Kam Htaung Gyi hospital, where one died and another is in critical condition. "The villagers told us that the Burma Army fired artillery shells at the village."

 

All residents from Nyaung Hket Kan village sought refuge at Kam Htaung Gyi.

 

The casualties of the artillery attack are Maung Thura Aung, 5; Ma Thu Thu Hein, 5; her mother, Moe Thazin, 29; Ma Hnin Yu Hlaing, 22 and Ko Chan Nyein Thu, 27.

 

A source from the Rakhita Foundation, who was in Nyaung Kan during the shell attack, told NMG that the victims were cremated yesterday. Only the oldest residents remain in the village.

 

"Residents told me there was no fighting when the shells landed in their village,” said Pe Than, a parliamentarian for Myebon Township. “I don't think the shell attack was accidental. We need to investigate it."

 

The Burma Army has not reported the shelling or about any fighting in the area on its official website. Nor has it released information to the media.

 

Clashes between the Burma Army and Arakan Army were reported by locals in Ratheduang Township where the Tatmadaw allegedly used combat helicopters to launch an airstrike on the ethnic armed organization.