Myanmar Air Force strikes displacement camp, killing six as airstrikes intensify in Rakhine State

Oct 5

1 min read

*Residents in Ponnagyun Township, Arakan State, search for survivors after two regime airstrikes on Oct. 4. (Credit: AA)*

At least six residents were killed and seven others were injured in two airstrikes carried out by the Myanmar Air Force on an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Arakan State’s Ponnagyun Township on Sunday. Ponnagyun, 20 miles (32 km) north of the state capital Sittwe, was seized by the Arakan Army (AA) on March 4, 2024.

Wai Hun Aung, a humanitarian aid worker in AA-controlled territory, told DVB that the death toll could rise once the search-and-rescue operations are completed. He added that the seven injured were in critical condition at the hospital.

Myanmar Air Force fighter jets carried out 20 airstrikes that killed at least two civilians and injured 10 others in Arakan’s Rathedaung Township on Oct. 3, the AA reported. Rathedaung, located 44 miles (70 km) north of Sittwe, was seized by the AA on March 17, 2024.

At least one civilian was killed and eight others were injured during airstrikes in Pauktaw, Ponnagyun and Rathedaung townships on Sept. 30. Pauktaw, located 131 (210 km) east of Sittwe, was seized by the AA on Jan. 24, 2024.

A Ponnagyun resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity that her family now lives inside a bomb shelter fearing further airstrikes.

On Sept. 28, at least 50 people were killed and another 58 were injured during airstrikes in Arakan’s Kyauktaw Township, located 60 miles (96 km) north of Sittwe. Kyauktaw was seized by the AA on Feb. 7, 2024.