The humanitarian crisis in Myanmar continues to deepen as recent reports confirm a devastating airstrike by the Burma Air Forces in central Myanmar. Specifically targeting Chatkan village in Pauk Township, Magway Region, this unprovoked attack tragically claimed the lives of at least five civilians instantly, with another 13 sustaining injuries. Three of the injured are reported to be in critical condition, while one of the bombs directly hit a shop, underscoring the indiscriminate nature of the assault.
This region is partially controlled by the People’s Defense Force (PDF), the armed wing of Myanmar’s National Unity Government. The PDF was established in 2021 to resist the military junta that seized power on February 1, 2021. This coup ousted the democratically elected government, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, plunging the nation into an ongoing state of emergency and widespread civil conflict.
The recent airstrikes follow claims by the PDF of killing 18 junta soldiers earlier this month, triggering further retaliatory actions. The intensifying clashes have forced over 5,000 people to flee their homes in the area, adding to the nearly three million already displaced since the coup. Rights monitors reveal a grim statistic: over 6,000 lives have been lost in the fighting between the junta and opposition groups. The international community remains concerned, with the UN reporting at least 170 civilian deaths in more than 400 aerial attacks during Myanmar’s election period last month. As the conflict nears its fourth year, the toll on ordinary citizens caught in this devastating struggle continues to mount.
Source: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/junta-airstrikes-kill-5-civilians-in-central-myanmar/3826510
