Regime attacks kill 34 civilians, injure 38 in Arakan State last month

By Admin 09 Sep 2024

DMG Newsroom
9 September 2024, Sittwe

At least 34 civilians were killed and 38 others were injured last month by junta gunfire, shellings, airstrikes, and landmine blasts in Arakan State, according to a DMG tally.

By township, the deceased included 12 from Thandwe, 11 from Gwa, six from Mrauk-U, two from Rathedaung and one each from Ponnagyun, Kyaukphyu and Taungup.

Among the injured were five from Maungdaw, 12 from Gwa, one from Myebon, 10 from Mrauk-U, four each from Taungup and Rathedaung, and two from Pauktaw.

Dozens of people were also killed on August 5 in an attack along the Naf River, which forms the border between Myanmar and Bangladesh in Maungdaw Township. The AA has been accused of perpetrating that attack, reportedly involving both aerial drones and artillery strikes, but the ethnic armed group has denied those allegations.

Eleven children are among the deceased killed by the junta airstrikes and artillery attacks.

"We don't sleep well at night. We live in insecurity, wondering where to hide in case of a jet fighter, and where to put our children," said a local woman in Mrauk-U.

The military regime, which has been suffering losses due to the heavy offensives of the Arakkha Army (AA) in Arakan State, has been attacking towns and villages where civilians live, mainly using heavy weapons and airstrikes, and civilian casualties continue to rise.

At least 56 civilians were killed and 48 others were injured in July by junta gunfire, shellings, airstrikes, landmine blasts and torture at interrogation centres in Arakan State.

In addition to the townships where the military regime is fighting fiercely with the AA, most other townships in Arakan State remain in a state of military tension at best, with residents living on edge due to the regime airstrikes and artillery attacks near and far.

"The regime carries out multiple airstrikes on some villages near our village on a daily basis. We are afraid of the junta jet fighters. We have difficulties fleeing to safer locations," said a local man in Taungup Township.

The civilian population lives in fear because of the military regime's heavy weapon fire and aerial bombardment, regardless of military and civilian targets.

At least 359 civilians were killed in massacres in Arakan State and Mandalay, Sagaing and Magway regions in the six months from January through June, according to the latest report from the Institute for Strategy and Policy Myanmar (ISP-Myanmar).

"As the military regime loses territory to the resistance forces, it is forced to rely on aerial support. The fact that the regime's aerial support has mainly targeted civilian residences rather than the battleground constitutes international war crimes. The military regime's war crimes against its own people need to be effectively dealt with by the international community," said a military observer in Arakan State.

The AA, which has seized control of the majority of Arakan State's 17 townships, is currently stepping up offensives in attempts to fully capture Maungdaw and Thandwe townships.