A woman was injured by shrapnel after the Burma Army indiscriminately fired heavy and small arms in Burma’s northern Shan State.

Nang Ei Mon Aung, Shan Nationalities League for Democracy electoral candidate for Kyaukme Township constituency-1, told SHAN that the woman from Kywe Kon village suffered injuries to her leg and forehead.

She was taken to hospital and still needs X-rays taken to determine if all the shrapnel has been removed from her body.

Nang Ei Mon Aung said she needs to check with hospital staff. “I don’t know why they didn’t take X-rays of her injuries. It’s very important to do that.”

Three homes were destroyed during the shelling, which occurred last Friday (October 9) between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.

“We heard loud noises of heavy weapons being fired,” said a resident of Kywe Kon. “People hid in their homes. Everybody was afraid to go outside.” The following day, villagers reported seeing Burma Army soldiers walking around the village, which is right next to Kyaukme town.

With less than a month until the country goes to the polls for the general election, hostilities between Burma Army and ethnic armed organizations have been increasing. Tatmadaw forces have been attacking the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army in Kyaukme Township since October 2.

Nang Lao Lao wants the fighting to stop. “At this time, people are suffering a lot. People’s lives are more important than the election.” She said it was upsetting to see the villagers with tears in their eyes because they feel completely helpless.

According to civil society organizations, more than 3,000 people have been uprooted by the recent fighting and are struggling for emergency aid.