UN Chief Raises Alarm Over Civilian Casualties Amid Myanmar Airstrikes

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern over recent reports of military airstrikes in Myanmar, particularly the devastating strikes witnessed in Minbya township on Monday, which resulted in numerous civilian casualties, according to a UN spokesperson.

Since the military coup in 2021, Myanmar has been embroiled in a state of unrest, with the latest airstrikes only exacerbating the already dire situation, reports Reuters.

“The Secretary-General is deeply troubled by the escalation of conflict in Rakhine State, which has led to displacement and worsened existing vulnerabilities and discrimination,” the spokesperson stated. “He urges all parties involved to refrain from actions that could further stoke communal tensions.”

The Rohingya Muslim minority, long subjected to persecution in Myanmar, has faced particularly dire circumstances. Nearly a million Rohingya currently reside in overcrowded camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, having fled a brutal military crackdown in 2017.

Myanmar’s military rulers continue to deny the Rohingya citizenship, viewing them as outsiders in the predominantly Buddhist nation.

Reports from local residents, as cited by Radio Free Asia, detailed the harrowing aftermath of Friday’s airstrike on Thar Dar village, primarily inhabited by Rohingya. According to these accounts, 23 individuals lost their lives, with 30 others sustaining injuries in the bombing, which occurred approximately 5 kilometers north of Minbya.

Despite these eyewitness testimonies, Reuters could not immediately verify the precise details of the incident, underscoring the challenges in accessing accurate information amidst the ongoing turmoil in Myanmar.