A 13-year-old boy was killed and another villager was injured when Myanmar junta airstrikes hit an area of Karenni State’s Mese Township where there was no fighting, on 12 July.

The airstrikes hit Kyauksu Village in Mese Township at 12:30 a.m. on 12 July. A 13-year-old boy was killed, another villager was injured and two houses and a church were damaged, according to the Karenni Human Rights Group (KHRG).

A KHRG board member said: “Three bombs were dropped at around 12:30 am on 12 July. A 13-year-old boy died on the spot and an elderly person was injured. Two houses and a car were hit by bombs and a Baptist church was also damaged.”

Most of the inhabitants of Kyauksu Village had already fled to safety after fighting between local defence forces and the junta army started in Mese Township on 13 June. But, some had returned to tend their farms.

A volunteer helping internally displaced people in Mese Township said: "There are no more civilians in Kyauksu Village. People in the village have fled to the nearest forest to take temporary shelter. However, some people have gone home to farm outside of the village. But, most of the villagers are still staying in the forest because they are scared of artillery shells.