Children among civilians killed by junta attacks in Mrauk-U

By Admin 27 Dec 2023

DMG Newsroom
27 December 2023, Mrauk-U

Eleven civilians including children were killed and 10 others injured by junta artillery fire and airstrikes in Arakan State’s Mrauk-U Township over the three days from December 24-26.

The regime carried out three drone attacks on the Phayapaw displacement camp at around 7 p.m. on Tuesday, killing five people. Four of them were children: two girls aged 10 and 11, and two boys aged 4 and 9. Other victims killed in wards and villages of Mrauk-U Township were aged between 26 and 52.

Among those injured were two children aged 11 and 14. A 47-year-old woman from the Phayapaw displacement camp was also injured.

“The regime dropped bombs three times. A child and an elderly woman were immediately killed. Three children died at the hospital. The regime dropped bombs deliberately,” said a displaced person from the Phayapaw camp.

The Letkaukzay Ward administrator was also killed when an artillery shell fired by Light Infantry Battalion 540 landed on his farm, where he was working on Tuesday morning.

“His death was only found out hours after he was fatally hit. Family members thought he was working, but when they went to the farm, he was dead,” said a Mrauk-U resident.

On Monday, a father died when an artillery shell fired by the regime hit Sinchaseik Ward. His three children, a boy and two girls ages 14, 18 and 19 respectively, were seriously injured.

“The family was inside their house, which was hit by the artillery strike. The father died immediately, and the children were injured,” said another resident of Mrauk-U town.

Junta troops and the AA have been fighting since Sunday in Mrauk-U. Houses and heritage buildings in the town have been damaged by junta air and artillery strikes.

“The regime has been targeting civilians not only in Arakan State, but across the country. It is creating troubles for civilians,” said politician U Pe Than.

Since renewed fighting broke out on November 13, civilian casualties inflicted by regime troops continue to rise.