Nine children were among the 17 civilians killed in an aerial bombardment by the military council on Kanan village in Tamu Township of Sagaing Region, according to the statement by the National Unity Government (NUG).
In addition, 11 children aged between 3 and 16 are among the 19 injured people, according to the statement and residents.
At around 10 am on 7 January, the military council attacked the school and the church in Kanan village on the Kalay-Tamu road near Khampat in Tamu Township when the church was crowded with the people, with high-explosive bombs twice.
A resident from Kanan village said: “The people were at the church when the bomb was dropped. When the flight dropped bombs for the first time, they ran away from the church. When they ran away, they were hit by a second bomb. A total of 17 people died. The funeral services ended in the evening. The whole village is quite sad.”
According to the statement released by the NUG’s Defense Ministry on 9 January, as a result of the attack, 17 civilians, including 9 children aged between 5 and 17, were killed and 19 others were wounded.
The children killed in the bombardment, aged between 5 and 17 are: Maung Steven, 5, Maung Myo Thura Lin, 6, Maung Lar Htan Lyan, 7, Maung Kat Shan Khaing, 7, Ma Htan Nay Maw, 11, Ma Nwan Naim Maw, 13 and Ma Htin Nam, 14, Maung Lar Nwan Maw Yar, 16, and Maung Ouk Htan Hlyan, 17.
The civilians killed in the bombardment are: Daw Hout Fen, 70, U Sa Law,29, U Bwan Kham, 62, U Htan Thin Sam, 62, U Lar Yan Ouk, 39, Maung Ar Yaw Htan, 29, Daw Swe Kyin Par, 52 and U Van Pat Aw Htan,42.
Currently, the people living in and around the bomb-damaged ward are fleeing to the farms as they are afraid of more airstrikes, a Kanan resident said.
“Some people have fled to the fields 3 to 5 miles away from the village. Not all people have fled. Only the people from the houses that are a little closer to the school ran away. The number is around 30 to 40. They fled for fear that the bombs may land again,” a Kanan resident continued.
Kanan village was bombarded by the military council without ground fighting. The aerial bombardment destroyed a church, a school and many houses.
Kanan village is a model village adjacent to Khampat which is occupied by the Joint People’s Defense Forces and is also a village where Chin ethnic groups live.
The NUG announced that till 31 December since the military coup, 827 children under the age of 18 and 1,017 women were killed by the military council led by the coup leader Min Aung Hlaing.
In addition, 583 airstrikes on the villages killed 897 civilians and destroyed 76 religious buildings and 52 schools, the statement said.
The National Unity Government has announced that it will take measures to arrest and punish those involved in the offenses, through the domestic legal system.
Sent by KMG.