Red Cross saves elders trapped under artillery fire

By Cha Lu Aung 20 Apr 2019

Cha Lu Aung / DMG

April 20, Buthidaung

Villagers from Nwayonetaung village in Buthidaung Township, who fled from their homes when the Tatmadaw launched artillery fire near their village since April 19 morning, said that they had to leave older villagers behind who couldn’t walk.

Members of the Red Cross started rescue operations on the morning of April 20 because local CSOs had to give up their rescue attempts due to gunfire.

Since five older people were left in the village with some other villagers, members of the WDAB and Maungdaw Garuna Network sought save them on the afternoon of April 19.

However, they could not reach the village due to heavy mortar fire near Thone Set Tabone pagoda, members of the groups said.

“We started to rescue the elders. No one is injured. We couldn’t rescue them yesterday due to the barrage of artillery fire. Today, there was no shooting as of now”, said U Ye Thein, Chairman of the NLD for Buthidaung Township.

“We are planning to go Sangotaung and Uyintha villages also,” he added.

Villagers from Uyinthar and Sangotaung have also fled to refugee camps because of continuous gunfire, and some elders and villagers were trapped in the firing.

The DMG contacted Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun from the Tatmadaw True News Information Team for comment, he said that there was no battle near the village during this time.

“There are no armed conflicts anywhere. We don’t know about the gunfire in Nwayonetaun village yet. We’ll reply when we know,” he said.