In a devastating incident, at least 29 people, including children, lost their lives in an artillery strike on a displaced persons’ camp in northeast Myanmar, close to the Chinese border.
The targeted camp is situated in an area controlled by the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO), one of several ethnic insurgent groups engaged in a prolonged struggle for self-rule.
According to a KIO spokesman, all the victims were civilians, marking one of the deadliest attacks in the 63-year-long conflict in Kachin State. Officials from Kachin report an escalation of armed forces’ attacks on KIO-controlled areas in response to growing Kachin support for other insurgent groups opposing the military government.
Myanmar has been entangled in a broader civil war since the 2021 military coup that displaced the elected government. The military, which seized power, has increasingly employed air strikes against opposition-held areas.
The exiled National Unity Government (NUG) has attributed the attack on the camp to the junta, denouncing it as a “war crime and crime against humanity.”
In contrast, Junta spokesman Maj Gen Zaw Min Tun has denied the military’s involvement, claiming that the army had no operations in the area. He suggested the possibility of the destruction being caused by stockpiled explosives.
The incident adds to the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, underscoring the persistent violence and challenges faced by displaced populations.
The conflicting narratives regarding responsibility highlight the complexity of the situation and the need for a thorough investigation to ascertain the facts surrounding the tragic event.
