Two children in Moungswe village, Mrauk U Township, injured after being hit by shrapnel of an artillery shell are facing difficulties to access proper medical treatment for their wounds.

Locals said, at around 2:PM of September 29, Battalion 377 and 378 from the Military Council, based in Mrauk U launched an artillery attack targeting Moundswe village and nearby areas.

One of the shells that hit U Shwe Sein Hla’s house not only destroyed the building but also injured U Shwe Sein Hla’s two daughters. The girls are 13 and 4 respectively, a village resident said.

The two children were arranged to be taken to Mrauk U Hospital by an ambulance, but the Military Council troops based in Mrauk U did not allow them to pass through. Therefore, the children were only treated in the village with traditional medicine.

“At around 2 o'clock in the afternoon, artillery shells fell into the village. The house collapsed after the direct hit. Two children were also injured. Their conditions were not very serious. They were arranged to be transported to Mrayuk U hospital, however the army did not. So, they were treated with traditional medicine”, the resident said.

In the afternoon, 2 Military Council soldiers were killed by a landmine that AA planted on the road leading to Moungswe village, which is occasionally used by the Military troops, a local said. After that incident, the army began firing artillery at Moungswe and nearby villages, he added.

“At least 7 artillery shells were fired. And no one was allowed to pass near the village. Some children from Maungswe Village were going to school in Mrauk U. Even those children couldn’t return to the village because the army had stopped them”, according to another local.

Residents were worried if there would be more destruction after Mrauk U based Military Council battalions kept firing artillery towards Maungswe village until past 6:00 P.M.