Junta airstrikes claim both lives and peace of mind

By Admin 21 Dec 2024

Written by May Gyi Shin
 
It was a Sabbath day, and the town of Kyauktaw was bustling with people returning from monasteries and others going about their daily routines. Daw Yi Yi Than, along with her 6-year-old son, was at a chilli grinding mill in the heart of the town. Everything seemed normal until the deafening roar of descending jets shattered the peace.
 
People on the streets took to their heels, scrambling for cover wherever they could find it. Daw Yi Yi Than, inside the mill, clutched her son to her chest and hit the deck just as a thunderous explosion rocked the neighbourhood, plunging it into deadly silence.
 
“When I opened my eyes after the bombing, I saw headless bodies and dismembered corpses around me,” said Daw Yi Yi Than, in her 40s, describing the heart-wrenching scene.
 
The incident occurred at around 4 p.m. on October 10 when a junta airstrike hit the area near the No. 2 Basic Education High School and the grinding mill in downtown Kyauktaw, causing multiple casualties.
 
Daw Yi Yi Than and her son were among 10 people injured, while 10 others were killed. The traumatic event has left her in constant fear and anxiety, weighing on her daily life.
 
Since that day, whenever she hears the sound of cars or motorcycles speeding by, she instinctively seeks cover or drops to the ground. She said she feels haunted by the painful memory of that day, which has led to sleepless nights and constant fear of another airstrike.
 
“When I hear loud noises from cars or motorcycles, I think it’s a jet plane, and my heart pounds, I sweat and feel disoriented. I frantically search for my children. This is how I live now,” said the mother of three, who in addition to her 6-year-old son has two daughters in their 20s.
 
Even at night, upon hearing the sound of planes, she will immediately grab her children from bed and take cover under the house. She has also started to restrict their outdoor activities.
 
Daw Yi Yi Than is aware that her anxiety is causing her to be overly protective of her children, but she finds it difficult to control her emotions, she acknowledges.
 
“I don’t let my daughters go out with their friends. If they have to go to the market, I tell them to come back quickly. I’m always worried that a bomb might drop where they are,” she said.
 
She has been consumed with fear for their safety and another airstrike to the extent that she cannot even do her household chores. She spends her days in a state of unease.
 
Daw Yi Yi Than is not alone in fearing the junta’s airstrikes. Many residents of Arakan State share similar fears. The psychological scars of those who have experienced airstrikes firsthand run deep.
 
“When the planes fly low as if they’re about to drop bombs, my heart races. If I can’t find my children nearby, my eyes widen with fear,” said Daw Apu Chay, 50, who witnessed junta warplanes drop 11 bombs on Pyaig Taung Village in Pauktaw Township on July 6.
 
Fighting has been raging in Arakan State for more than one year. The Arakkha Army (AA) has seized the majority of Arakan State’s 17 townships plus neighbouring Paletwa Township in Chin State over the past year.
 
Civilian casualties inflicted by the junta’s air raids have been on the rise in AA-controlled townships. Over the past year, more than 1,600 people have been killed or injured by airstrikes, artillery, landmines, and unexploded ordnance, according to a DMG tally.
 
The junta, struggling on the Arakan war front, has heavily relied on airstrikes, often targeting civilian areas to instil fear among the local populations.
 
“The regime has used different types of aircraft. It is even using drones now. People are living in constant fear. Parents don’t let their children go far. This shows that the junta’s tactic of instilling fear has been successful,” said social activist and writer Wai Hun Aung.
 
In addition to the daily airstrikes that have left emotional scars on Arakan residents, junta road blockades are causing severe economic hardships for them. According to a 2023 report by the UN Human Rights Office, about 60% of survey respondents in Myanmar reported experiencing depression and anxiety.
 
Mental health professionals note that those who have experienced psychological trauma are vulnerable to similarly distressing events, leading to prolonged anxiety and fear.
 
Mental health specialist Dr. Lin Lu said: “When they hear sounds similar to jet planes, they panic, thinking it’s happening again. Their minds react as if it’s an actual bombing. These feelings can last a long time. They need treatment and people around them need to understand and support them because recovery can take time.”
 
But for the most part, Myanmar lacks organisations and facilities that provide treatment and counselling for mental health issues, as well as skilled professionals.
 
For people like Daw Yi Yi Than who have experienced wartime trauma, mental health support and counseling are crucial but remain challenging to access. People in conflict zones are likely to face recurring psychological issues.
 
Amid the ongoing conflict, Daw Yi Yi Than takes time to send prayers for everyone to stay safe.
 
“Every morning, I get up early to pray for the safety of all the people from airstrikes,” she said. “I don’t want to hear or see anything related to airstrikes anymore.”