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Written by Shoon Naing
(Reuters) – Dozens of people have been killed in air strikes by Myanmar’s military government in western Rakhine state this week, the United Nations said, as the Southeast Asian country’s civil war nears its fourth year.
The nation’s shadow government and the Arakan Army, a tribal militia based in Rakhine fighting for the region’s independence, also reported that the attack had killed many people.
The junta hit Kyauk Ni Maw village in Yanbye city on Wednesday afternoon, destroying about 500 houses and killing more than 40 people, according to the Government of National Unity and the UN statement released late on Friday.
Reuters could not immediately confirm the reports. A military spokesman did not return calls seeking comment. The military court denies allegations of atrocities against civilians, saying it is fighting “terrorists”.
The Arakan Army has released the names of 26 Muslim civilians who were allegedly 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 turned into widespread armed insurrections.
The UN statement urged all parties to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law.
The Blood Money Campaign, a group of Myanmar activists working to cut money to the junta, has urged international governments to quickly impose sanctions on companies that supply jet fuel.
“Only when this support stops will the air strikes stop,” said Mulan, a spokesperson for the Blood Money Campaign that goes by the same name.
