AA says junta strikes kill nine civilians in Arakan State over four days

By Admin 05 Apr 2024

DMG Newsroom
5 April 2024, Sittwe

Nine civilians were killed and 22 others were injured by junta air and artillery attacks in Arakan State over the four days from April 1-4, according to a DMG tally.

Among the victims killed were two in Kyauktaw town, three in Minbya Township’s Myitnar Village, three in Kanhtaungyi town, Myebon Township, and one in Pauktaw Township’s Maw Htoke Gyi Village.

Five people were injured in Kyauktaw town; eight in Myitnar Village; three in Kanhtaungyi; and six in Maw Htoke Gyi.

A local resident in Kyauktaw town expressed concerns as the regime is conducting air and artillery strikes every day on areas seized by the Arakan Army (AA).

“The regime often strafes and bombs our town,” he said. “Some people were killed and injured when they dropped bombs yesterday. Residents are in a state of panic.”

Two civilians were killed and five were injured when regime aircraft bombed Kyauktaw town on Thursday.

Three civilians were killed and eight injured when the regime bombed Myitnar Village on Nga Sa Yine Chaung Island, Minbya Township, on Wednesday.

The regime has been conducting indiscriminate attacks on residential areas across the country as it continues to lose ground in its multi-front war against forces opposed to military rule.

“The regime has been conducting war crimes by targeting residents. It will continue to do so. People must exercise caution at this time,” said one politician in Arakan State.

Fighting has been raging in Arakan State for nearly five months. The AA has seized large swaths of Rathedaung, Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, Minbya, Pauktaw, Myebon and Ramree townships, as well as Paletwa Township in neighbouring Chin State.

A total of 179 civilians were killed and 486 were injured since renewed fighting broke out in Arakan State on November 13 of last year, according to the Humanitarian and Development Coordination Office of the AA.