BWU reports 73 women killed in August due to Myanmar junta attacks

Mizzima

The Burmese Women’s Union (BWU) reported on 8 September that 73 women were killed across Myanmar in August as a result of junta airstrikes, artillery attacks, arrests, and killings.

According to the report, 54 women were killed in aerial bombardments, seven by artillery shelling, three were burned to death, and one died due to sexual violence. Among the victims, 14 were minors under the age of 18.

The highest number of women killed were from Mandalay Region, where 27 fatalities were recorded, followed by 14 in Magway Region. Eight women were killed in Karenni State, seven each in Sagaing Region and Rakhine State, four each in Kachin State and Bago Region, and one each in Shan State and Tanintharyi Region.

“Since the illegal terrorist Military Commission attempted to seize power on1 February 2021, they have been committing war crimes, crimes against humanity, and widespread human rights violations by various means for nearly five years,” the BWU said in its statement.

The organization also noted that the junta has increasingly relied on airstrikes compared to previous months. The figures in the report were compiled from media outlets and ground-level sources, but BWU cautioned that the actual number of victims may be higher.