Women and girls in Myanmar face deadly dual crises following earthquake

Mizzima

As Myanmar reels from the devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck on 28 March, killing 3,649 and injuring over 5,000, another grim toll is emerging, one driven not by natural disaster, but by the ongoing brutality of the military junta.

According to an information factsheet released by the Burmese Women’s Union (BWU), at least 66 women were killed and 88 injured across Myanmar in March alone, many as a direct result of military violence. Of those killed, the majority – 50 women – died in military airstrikes. Artillery shelling claimed another five lives, while two women were killed by landmines.

Alarmingly, seven women were victims of extrajudicial killings. One woman died due to fire and another from an incident of sexual gender-based violence. Distressingly, 24 of the fatalities were girls under the age of 18.