Military junta airstrikes and artillery attacks across Myanmar during a period of severe earthquake devastation resulted in the deaths of 72 civilians within a single week.
According to the Ministry of Human Rights of the National Unity Government (NUG), these attacks by the military junta claimed the lives of 72 civilians, including children under 18, and injured 91 others.
The junta conducted a total of 92 airstrikes and artillery attacks over the week in 12 regions including Sagaing and Mandalay – the two regions hardest hit by the earthquake – and Magway, Kachin, Karenni (Kayah), and Shan, the NUG reported.
Regarding the situation in Karenni State, U Banyar, Secretary (2) of the Karenni State Interim Executive Council (IEC), said: “After the earthquake, the military council carried out airstrikes on at least two villages in Karenni, targeting civilian villages.”
Commenting further on the impact of the junta airstrikes and artillery attacks in Karenni State following the earthquake, which caused civilian casualties and property damage, U Banyar elaborated:
“The first incident was in Ka Li Hlar, in Phruso Township. One person was injured, and one house was destroyed there. They dropped three 500-pound bombs,” U Banyar said.
He continued: “Then, in Pi Kinn Kaw Khu, at the border between Loikaw and Moebye, artillery shelling in the morning injured three people, and one person died. Later, around 3 p.m., another airstrike killed four civilians. Five houses were destroyed in that attack.”
According to verified data from the NUG’s Ministry of Human Rights, the junta airstrikes and artillery attacks following the severe earthquake killed 72 civilians, including six children under 18 and 30 women.
However, the NUG noted that the actual number of casualties on the ground could be higher, with additional reports still pending.
Despite the junta’s announcement of a nationwide ceasefire from 2 to 22 April due to the earthquake disaster, it has failed to adhere to its own declaration, conducting daily airstrikes, according to a statement by the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF).
Sent by NMG.
