Three children were injured by a junta drone attack in Kay Hlar village tract in Hpruso Township as fierce fighting continues between junta forces and allied resistance forces in Kayah State, a local rights group said.
“Three children aged 10, nine and eight were hit by shrapnel yesterday. One of the children is in critical condition,” said Ko Benya, spokesperson for the Karenni Human Rights Group.
The drone attack hit a village far from conflict areas, he added.
The junta has escalated shelling and airstrikes on civilian targets in the eastern state, the rights group said.
Heavy bombardments are also reported in Demoso and Hpruso townships, where fighting has intensified between junta troops and allied resistance forces in the state.
“They’ve just fired six rounds of artillery bombardments just a few minutes ago,” a resident of Demoso told The Irrawaddy.
Junta warplanes also conducted an airstrike near Kwaing Ngan Village in Demoso Township, damaging a bridge and a community hall on Wednesday.
There were no civilian casualties, local residents said.
Schools remain closed in western Demoso and Hpruso townships due to the escalation of shelling and airstrikes by junta forces.
“We couldn’t open our school as they [junta forces] deliberately bombed IDP [internally displaced person] camps and residential areas,” a teacher from Hpruso Township said.
An IDP camp in Demoso Township was hit by junta airstrikes on July 5, injuring three people— including a child—and damaging a makeshift school.
Tension remains high in Hpruso after the junta sent heavy reinforcements in an attempt to control Pyidaungsu Road between Demoso and Hpruso townships.
Clashes have intensified near three villages in Hpruso—Daw Ngay Khu, Htee Ka Lu Daw and Htee Paw So—that were seized by junta forces, sources said.
Junta forces suffered heavy casualties in three days of clashes with resistance forces in Ngwe Taung Ywar Thit and Htee Thaw Ku villages between August 10 and August 12, according to Karenni Nationalities Defense Force.
The KNDF said 71 junta soldiers were killed and three resistance fighters died in the clashes.
The Irrawaddy was unable to verify the casualty figures.
At least 516 civilians were killed and 196 were detained by junta forces in the state since the February 2021 coup, according to the Progressive Karenni People Force, which monitors junta atrocities in Kayah State.
Junta shelling and bombing raids targeting civilians had also destroyed at least 1,639 houses and 39 religious buildings, the group said.
An estimated 100,000 people are in urgent need of food and medicine in the state, aid groups say.
