76 civilian casualties in Arakan State in first half of May: DMG tally

By Admin 16 May 2024

DMG Newsroom
16 May 2024, Sittwe

Twenty-six civilians were killed and 50 others were injured by junta shellings and airstrikes in Arakan State in the two weeks from May 1-15, according to a DMG tally.

By township, the deceased are three from Buthidaung; one from Ann; four from Kyauktaw; two from Kyaukphyu, six from Maungdaw; and 10 from Thandwe Township. Among the injured are 10 from Buthidaung, five from Ann, 22 from Kyauktaw, three from Kyaukphyu, four from Thandwe and six from Maungdaw. The casualty count is more likely than not higher on the ground.

The highest number of civilian casualties due to the regime’s often indiscriminate attacks is in Kyauktaw Township.

“Kyauktaw town links Paletwa in Chin State with India. Kyauktaw is important for Arakanese people to transport goods from India. As the regime doesn’t want Kyauktaw town, which is important for trade, to become crowded, it is conducting airstrikes and instilling fear in the people,” said a military analyst in Arakan State.

Sixteen civilians were killed and 69 others were injured by junta shellings and airstrikes in Arakan State last month. Compared with last month, civilian casualties this month have more than doubled.

“The military regime is defeated militarily in Arakan State. The failure of the remaining military bases for the military regime made it convenient for the ground forces to rely mainly on airstrikes. When the military regime uses airstrikes, it is not for the battlefield [advantage], but for their losses and harming the people,” said a human rights activist in Arakan State.

Customary international humanitarian law requires any armed organisation to protect civilians and bars them from attacking, abducting or using civilians as human shields or targeting civilian dwellings or populations.

Since its 2021 coup, the military regime, which is facing armed resistance across the country, continues to commit war crimes with disregard for the laws of war, and civilian casualties are increasing daily.

A local resident said that he wants the international community to take effective action against the regime’s war crimes as it targets hospitals, residential buildings and civilians in Arakan State.

A total of 179 civilians were killed and 486 were injured between November 13 of last year and March 21, with many homes and buildings damaged.