Myanmar Crisis: Civilians Killed in Airstrikes, Rohingya Risk Dangerous Journeys
January 22, 2025
YANGON, Myanmar – In a tragic escalation of the ongoing conflict in Myanmar, at least 10 civilians were killed in airstrikes carried out by the military on Thursday, January 21st. The strikes targeted villages in the northern Rakhine state, an area that has been embroiled in violence between ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims for years.
According to local residents and aid workers, the airstrikes hit several houses in the villages of Thabyay Chaung and Ponnagyun, killing and injuring civilians. Among the victims were women and children.
“I saw houses burning and people screaming,” said Maung Thein, a resident of Thabyay Chaung. “The military is targeting civilians. They are trying to drive us away from our homes.”
The airstrikes come amid a broader military offensive against the Arakan Army, an ethnic armed group that has been fighting for greater autonomy for the Rakhine people. The offensive has displaced tens of thousands of people, and reports of human rights abuses by security forces have been widespread.
The airstrikes have also raised concerns about the safety of the Rohingya people, who have faced systematic persecution and violence in Myanmar. The Rohingya are a stateless minority group who have been denied citizenship and basic rights for decades.
In recent months, there has been a surge in the number of Rohingya fleeing Myanmar by boat. The journey is extremely dangerous, and many Rohingya have drowned at sea.
“The airstrikes are making the situation even more desperate for the Rohingya,” said Chris Lewa, director of the Arakan Project, a human rights group that monitors the plight of the Rohingya. “They have nowhere safe to go.”
The United Nations has condemned the airstrikes and called for an immediate cessation of violence. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, said that the airstrikes “may amount to war crimes.”
“I urge the Myanmar authorities to end their attacks on civilians and to respect international humanitarian law,” Bachelet said in a statement.
The international community has also called for an end to the violence in Myanmar. The United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union have all condemned the airstrikes and urged the Myanmar military to exercise restraint.
The crisis in Myanmar is a complex and long-standing issue. The conflict between the Rakhine and Rohingya communities has been fueled by historical, religious, and economic tensions. The military’s heavy-handed response to the crisis has only exacerbated the situation.
A lasting solution to the crisis will require a sustained international effort to address the root causes of the conflict and to protect the rights of all communities in Myanmar.
Myanmar crisis: Civilians killed in airstrikes as Rohingya risk dangerous journeys
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