Civilian toll mounts in southeastern Myanmar amid airstrikes and forced conscription

Nai Aue Mon addresses the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, in March 2026. (Credit: HURFOM)

Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) Program Director Nai Aue Mon warned of a worsening human rights crisis across Mon State, Karen State, and Tanintharyi Region, characterized by escalating standoff air attacks, widespread displacement, and forced military conscription.

In an exclusive interview with DVB, Nai Aue Mon addressed the human rights conditions in southeastern Myanmar, detailing how the regime’s growing reliance on long-range weapons

—including fighter jets, Y-12 aircraft, drones, paramotors, gyrocopters, and heavy artillery

—has systematically terrorized rural communities unable to defend against attacks from a distance.

Escalating Aerial Bombardment and Civilian Toll

HURFOM’s field documentation network, operating from resistance-controlled zones and border corridors under strict safety protocols, recorded a steady rise in civilian casualties resulting from standoff military operations:

• 2024 Operations: Approximately 120 recorded attacks (including 65 airstrikes) resulted in over 120 civilian deaths and more than 300 injuries.

• 2025 Operations: At least 130 documented attacks killed 136 civilians and injured over 340 others.

• 2026 Surge: Between January and March 2026 alone, HURFOM logged at least 32 airstrikes across Mon, Karen, and Tanintharyi, while partner networks reported roughly 60 additional air raids across Kawkareik, Hpapun, and Thaton districts.

• Impact on Women and Children: Between April and June 2026, HURFOM documented 55 civilian fatalities (including 35 women and 15 children) and 160 injuries (including 45 women and 28 children) across its focus areas.