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Airstrike in Myanmar’s Rakhine State Kills 40, Sparks Humanitarian Crisis
A military airstrike in Rakhine leaves 40 dead, dozens injured, and over 500 homes destroyed. The region, plagued by conflict, faces a worsening humanitarian crisis.
ND
by News Desk
2025-01-09
Airstrike in Myanmar’s Rakhine State Kills 40, Sparks Humanitarian Crisis

A devastating military airstrike in Myanmar’s Rakhine State has killed at least 40 civilians and injured dozens more, marking another grim chapter in the country’s ongoing conflict. The attack targeted Kyauk Ni Maw village on Ramree Island, a region controlled by the Arakan Army (AA), around 1:20 PM on Wednesday.

According to AA spokesperson Khaing Thu Kha, the airstrike ignited a massive fire that engulfed over 500 homes. “Initial reports indicate 40 innocent civilians were killed and 20 were wounded,” he stated.

A local rescue worker confirmed the death toll at 41, with 52 injured, noting dire shortages of medical supplies. “We don’t even have enough betadine and methylated spirit to treat the wounded due to transportation challenges,” the worker told AFP anonymously, citing safety concerns.

Devastation in Rakhine
Images from the scene depict a harrowing aftermath: charred ruins of homes, dazed survivors walking amidst smoking debris, and trees stripped bare of leaves. The ground is strewn with remnants of corrugated metal and the skeletal remains of buildings.

The military junta has yet to comment on the incident, despite repeated attempts for a response.

Strategic Tensions and Escalating Conflict
Rakhine State has been a flashpoint in Myanmar’s bloody turmoil since the military ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian government in a 2021 coup. The Arakan Army, an ethnic armed group fighting for greater autonomy, has seized swathes of territory in Rakhine, all but isolating the state capital, Sittwe.

Ramree Island, the site of the attack, is home to a stalled China-backed deep-sea port project intended to connect Beijing to the Indian Ocean. The ongoing conflict has disrupted its construction, highlighting the region’s strategic importance.

The Myanmar military, already battling youth-led “People’s Defence Forces” and various ethnic armed groups nationwide, has increasingly resorted to air and artillery strikes against civilian populations. The United Nations has accused the junta of indiscriminate violence, worsening the humanitarian crisis.

A Grim Humanitarian Outlook
The United Nations estimates that over 3.5 million people have been displaced by Myanmar’s conflict, a staggering increase of 1.5 million from last year. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned that nearly 20 million people—more than a third of the population—will need aid in 2025.

Rakhine State, in particular, is on the brink of famine. In November, the UN Development Programme reported that intensified fighting had crippled commerce and agricultural production, threatening the livelihoods of countless civilians.

Calls for International Action
The attack on Kyauk Ni Maw underscores the urgent need for international intervention to address the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar. Rights groups have condemned the military’s tactics and called for greater global pressure to halt the violence and provide aid to affected regions.

As Myanmar descends further into chaos, the plight of its civilians remains a stark reminder of the human cost of conflict and political instability.
Tagged:

HumanRights

MyanmarCrisis

RakhineConflict
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