Woman injured during clash in Buthidaung Township

10 Feb 2020

Khin Tharaphy Oo and Win Nyunt | DMG
10 February, Sittwe

A clash broke out between the Tatmadaw and Arakan Army along a mountain range near Sabahta village in Arakan State’s Buthidaung Township on February 10 and a woman was wounded by shrapnel, said the township’s Pyithu Hluttaw lawmaker U Aung Thaung Shwe.

The injured woman was identified as Daw Oo Nu Khin, 43, from Sin Khone Dine village in Rathedaung Township. Sin Khone Dine and Sabahta are sister villages along the shared border of Rathedaung and Buthidaung townships, with only a creek separating the two settlements.

The shrapnel hit Daw Oo Nu Khin’s upper back while she was cooking in her home on Monday afternoon, said her younger brother Kyaw San Lin.

She was sent to Zedi Taung cottage hospital in Buthidaung Township. The injury was minor, said Dr. Min Soe Aung from the hospital.

“They arrived at the hospital at about 4:30 p.m. If she needs to get an X-ray, she would go to Sittwe or Buthidaung Hospital,” the doctor said.

The Tatmadaw used helicopters during Monday’s clash and villagers from Sin Khone Dine and Si Taung fled to Zedi Taung village. People from Zedi Taung also took cover in bomb shelters.

“We are hiding in the shelter as we are worried about the risk to our lives,” a villager said.

DMG phoned AA spokesperson Khaing Thukha, but he responded that he was not aware of the clash. DMG also called the spokesperson for the Tatmadaw’s Western Command, Colonel Win Zaw Oo, but he could not be reached for comment.