Over 50 women killed and more than 50 injured by Myanmar military junta in August

Mizzima

The Burmese Women’s Union (BWU) released a statement 4 September saying 55 women were killed and 52 others were injured during the one-month period from 1 to 31 August due to the actions of the Myanmar military junta.

BWU said the figures were compiled from reliable news media reports, but that due to challenges gathering real-time ground-level data, the actual number of casualties is likely much higher.

Among the deceased were six girls under the age of 18, all of whom died in junta airstrikes.

The statement said the injuries were caused primarily by airstrikes, which accounted for 43 of the 52 injured, followed by heavy artillery shelling, gunshot wounds, and landmines, each accounting for three injuries.

By state and region, Rakhine State recorded the highest death toll with 17 fatalities, followed by Sagaing Region with 13, Chin State with six, Magway Region with six, Bago Region with three, Karenni State with three, Karen State with two, Mandalay Region with one, and Tanintharyi Region with one.

BWU said the junta continues to perpetrate various human rights violations through multiple means, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, and conflict-related sexual violence that severely impacts the daily lives of women.