A military airstrike in Myanmar kills dozens of people in the village of Rakhine, according to the UN. Reuters
By Shoon Naing
(Reuters) – Dozens of people were killed in an airstrike by Myanmar’s military government in western Rakhine state this week, the United Nations said, as the civil war in the Southeast Asian country approaches its fourth year.
The civilian shadow government and the Arakan Army, a Rakhine-based ethnic militia fighting for the region’s autonomy, also reported that dozens of people were killed in the attack.
According to the Government of National Accord and a UN statement released late Friday, the junta attacked the village of Kyauk Ni Maw in Yanbye township on Wednesday afternoon, destroying around 500 houses and killing more than 40 people.
Reuters could not immediately verify the reports. A military spokesman did not respond to phone calls seeking comment. The junta denies allegations of atrocities against civilians, saying it is fighting “terrorists.”
The Arakan Army released the names of 26 Muslim villagers it said were killed and 12 injured in the attack.
Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military overthrew the elected government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021, sparking mass protests that grew into a widespread armed insurgency on multiple fronts.
The UN declaration called on all parties to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law.
The Blood Money Campaign, a coalition of Myanmar activists working to cut off revenues to the junta, called on international governments to quickly sanction companies that supply them with aviation fuel.
“Only when this support stops will the airstrikes truly end,” said Mulan, spokesman for the Blood Money Campaign, which goes by one name.
