The United Nations children’s agency UNICEF said on Thursday (25 February) it was deeply concerned by reports that Myanmar military air strikes this week had killed at least five children and dozens of civilians, as fighting intensified across the country.
Powered paragliders reportedly dropped bombs on a village in the central Sagaing region on Monday.
A day later, a fighter jet struck a busy village market in Ponnagyun Township in Rakhine State, about 320 km to the west, according to the Arakan Army rebel group and local media.
The attacks reportedly killed at least 24 people and injured dozens more.
“Children and civilians are once again bearing the brunt of escalating hostilities, with the strikes in Rakhine State reported to have hit homes and a busy local market in a village hosting displaced families,” UNICEF said in a statement.
“Ongoing clashes continue to displace children and upend their access to vital services, including health care, education and protection,” the agency added.
The military government has not responded to requests for comment.
Khaing Thu Kha, a spokesperson for the Arakan Army, said: “Targeting and bombing civilian sites by the military is no longer an isolated occurrence ... We have seen a high frequency of deliberate attacks on civilians.”
UNICEF urged all parties to uphold international humanitarian law, adding, “Children must be protected at all times. UNICEF is responding to the needs of conflict-affected children and their families across Myanmar.”
While Myanmar has experienced decades of conflict between the military and ethnic armed groups, the current nationwide crisis intensified after the military coup in February 2021, when the armed forces overthrew the elected government, triggering mass protests and armed resistance.
Ethnic armed groups and pro-democracy militias are fighting government forces in multiple regions.
Since the coup, the crisis has escalated into one of Asia’s largest humanitarian emergencies, with thousands of civilians killed, widespread displacement, and severe disruption to basic services such as healthcare and education.
Air strikes, including on villages and markets, have become increasingly frequent, and children and other non-combatants are repeatedly caught up in the violence. Rights groups and the UN have repeatedly accused the junta of targeting civilian areas - allegations the military denies.
China’s ruling Communist Party is stepping up oversight of technology firms, internet platforms and digital finance in a sweeping drive to ta...
A wave of bomb threats targeting passenger flights has disrupted air travel across Europe, forcing diversions, airport closures and fighter jet esc...
U.S. President Donald Trump says Washington will end its annual financial and military aid to Israel by the end of 2026, under an agreement he clai...
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says the U.S. must act to prevent war after Tehran sent a “strong and rational response” to Washington. Meanwhile, U.S. forces have reportedly carried out limited strikes against Iranian targets, including Qeshm Island,
Hundreds of millions of U.S. citizens head to the polls on 3 November to elect the House of Representatives and Senate. How they vote could influence the direction of Donald Trump’s remaining 26 months in office and the outcomes of the Ukraine and Iran conflicts.
A six-day humanitarian ceasefire in the Russian-held Ukrainian town of Oleshky ended on Sunday, 1 November, after facilitating aid deliveries and civilian evacuations.
Kyrgyzstan has emerged as Central Asia’s fastest-growing economy, fuelled by a construction boom, public investment and trade linked to Russia. But with Western sanctions tightening, can the country sustain its rapid growth?
Russia airstrikes on a school used as a humanitarian aid distribution point in southeastern Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region killed at least 26 people, including rescue workers and police officers, Ukrainian officials said. Another 27 people were reported missing.
China’s ruling Communist Party is stepping up oversight of technology firms, internet platforms and digital finance in a sweeping drive to tackle corruption and tighten control over the country’s rapidly evolving digital economy.
A wave of bomb threats targeting passenger flights has disrupted air travel across Europe, forcing diversions, airport closures and fighter jet escorts. No explosives have been found, raising questions about who is behind the alerts and whether the disruption itself is the goal.
U.S. President Donald Trump says Washington will end its annual financial and military aid to Israel by the end of 2026, under an agreement he claims to have reached with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that Ukraine's negotiators will meet with Russian and U.S. delegations in Abu Dhabi next week for the first peace talks mediated by Washington since February.
Spanish police are investigating the death of Tenerife striker Jesús de Miguel, who died after a collision with an opposing goalkeeper during a second-division football match. The case raises questions about when an on-field challenge can become a criminal offence.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment