Eleven civilians have been killed and 25 wounded in fighting in northern Shan State, local civil society groups have said.
According to the Humanitarian Strategic Team-Northern Shan State (HST-NSS), the casualties have been caused by landmine explosions and shells landing in villages, with two people being killed or injured every day over the last 13 days.
“The casualty numbers may be larger than my statistics,” Hawng Dau, an HST-NSS spokesperson, told SHAN, adding that more than half of those injured have been women.
HST-NSS has demanded that the Burma Army and forces belonging to the Northern Alliance of ethnic armed groups stop engaging in armed conflict in the area, and try to minimize civilian casualties in the fighting.
The organization also demanded that the government better control the prices of basic goods, which have been rising in northern Shan State due to instability caused by fighting.
The Burma Army launched an offensive against Northern Alliance members the Arakan Army, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army after joint forces from the armed groups attacked five military and police locations on August 15. The groups said that the strikes were part of a counter offensive to previous Burma Army attacks on their troops and positions.
