Junta forces entering the western part of Khin U Township in Sagaing Region as Cyclone Mocha hit on 14 May caused 3,000 residents to flee.

Ture News Information, local media from Khin U Township, reported that about 3,000 people had fled from the western Khin U Township villages of Innpat, Chantharkone and Konethar because junta soldiers had fired artillery at and entered the villages during the heavy tropical rain of Cyclone Mocha.

Junta soldiers started entering the area at about 6:00 a.m. according to a western Khin U resident who said: “We must flee because the junta is firing heavy artillery at us. Some are fleeing to the forest and some are fleeing to nearby cities and towns.”

At 6:00 a.m. the military and Pyu Saw Htee militia members unexpectedly started firing artillery and small arms at Chantharkone Village from their military camp close to Innpat Village.

Following that, junta soldiers raided the villages and stole villagers ’stocks of food.

When the junta troops entered Innpat Village they shot at and hit a four-year-old child who is currently receiving medical treatment for the bullet wound.

Locals said that the junta troops had attacked for no reason as the villagers were making preparations for Cyclone Mocha to hit, after meteorological forecasts had warned that the cyclone could hit.

Cyclone Mocha first hit Myanmar at Sittwe in Rakhine State on 14 May and it is expected to move inland to Chin and Kachin states and Magway and Sagaing regions.