Homes, religious buildings in Kayah State’s Hpruso Twsp destroyed by junta shelling

By DMG 23 Jun 2022

DMG Newsroom
23 June 2022, Hpruso, Kayah State

Four religious buildings and more than 20 houses were destroyed by artillery fired by the Myanmar military in Hpruso Township, Kayah State, in the second week of June, according to locals.

A Christian church was hit by artillery shells at Daw Nyae Khu village in Hpruso Township on the afternoon of June 15, destroying five houses, said a member of the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF).

“A Myanmar military contingent stormed Daw Nyae Khu village at around 3 p.m. on June 15, firing multiple artillery shells into the village. A Christian church and five homes were burned to ashes in the Myanmar military shelling,” the KNDF member added.

In addition, the Myanmar military opened heavy weapons fire into Htee Pot So village, destroying a Christian church, according to a ground source.

Along with the church, at least 10 houses including the home of the pastor and two other religious buildings in Htee Pot So and Daw Nyae Khu villages of Hpruso Township were destroyed in clashes between junta troops and a coalition led by the KNDF from June 12-14, an aid worker said.

“The regime forces torched at least 10 homes including a Christian church and a pastor’s home in the village in two days,” the relief worker added.

More than 1,000 locals have been displaced by the burning of homes and religious buildings by the military junta, according to locals.

“The junta troops entered the village, burning down some homes and firing artillery shells. Locals are afraid of staying in the village. The displaced people are facing difficulties at the displacement camp,” an internally displaced person (IDP) said.

Myanmar’s military junta has not yet commented on allegations that locals’ homes and religious buildings were recently destroyed by artillery fire in Kayah State.

Fighting between the KNDF and the junta forces has intensified since the first week of June due to the military’s increased presence in Demoso and Hpruso townships, and more than 10,000 locals have been displaced, according to aid workers.