Dozens of people were killed this week in an airstrike carried out by Myanmar’s military government in Rakhine state, the United Nations reported, as the civil war in the Southeast Asian nation approaches its fourth year.
The civilian-led shadow government and the Arakan Army, an ethnic militia advocating for autonomy in the region, also confirmed the attack had claimed dozens of lives.
According to the National Unity Government and a UN statement issued late on Friday, the junta targeted Kyauk Ni Maw village in Yanbye township on Wednesday afternoon, destroying approximately 500 homes and killing more than 40 people.
Reuters was unable to independently verify the reports. Attempts to contact a military spokesperson for comment went unanswered. The junta has denied accusations of atrocities against civilians, asserting that it is fighting “terrorists.”
The Arakan Army released a list of 26 Muslim villagers it identified as killed in the strike, with 12 others reported injured.
Myanmar has been in a state of upheaval since the military seized power in 2021, toppling the elected government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. The coup sparked widespread protests, which evolved into an armed rebellion across multiple fronts.
In its statement, the UN called on all parties to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law.
The Blood Money Campaign, a coalition of Myanmar activists working to cut off the junta’s funding, urged international governments to impose immediate sanctions on entities supplying aviation fuel to the military.
“Only when this support stops will the air strikes truly come to an end,” said Mulan, a spokesperson for the Blood Money Campaign, who goes by one name.
