Junta forces conduct airstrikes, fire shelling on Ahlel Pha Yone Kar island

Narinjara News, 16 May 2024

The junta forces are conducting airstrikes and firing artillery shells every day on Ahlel Pha Yone Kar island under  Pauktaw township of Rakhine State even though the area is so peaceful.

The military bases in Sittwe and the navy vessels are targeting villages like  Taung Oo Maw, Kyauk Pyin and Taung Chaung in the island. They also conducted airstrikes with jet fighters, said local residents.

On 14 May at around 5 pm, Taung Oo Maw village monastery and a nun’s building were destroyed by the airstrikes.

"At around  5 pm, a jet fighter bombed our village and destroyed the religious buildings. They dropped two bombs and also conducted artillery shelling,” said a villager.

The junta forces have been firing artillery shells over the village almost daily in the last few days.

On 11 May, three artillery shells fired from the junta's naval base in Sittwe exploded near Taung Chaung village.

The island is not witnessing any conflict and many displaced residents from Pauktaw town  are taking shelter in the villages of the island.

Now the relentless artillery shelling has compelled those displaced individuals to shift once again in search of safer places.