Four children die after airstrikes hit school in Myanmar's Karenni State

An airstrike in Myanmar’s southeastern Karenni state resulted in the deaths of four children and left at least 15 others injured, as recounted by five eyewitnesses. The victims, boys aged between 12 to 14, attended a school in Daw Si Ei village, serving around 200 students under the management of local community members and former government teachers. Two additional children are in critical condition, sustaining injuries to their head and abdomen. According to witness accounts, a plane followed by a fighter jet flew over the village at 10 a.m. Monday, as reported by Hay Blute Moo, the mother of one of the victims. The harrowing experience led her children to seek refuge under the bed, traumatised by the ordeal. Eyewitnesses reported that as the airstrike hit, students were attempting to seek shelter in a bunker, a common safety measure in communities across Myanmar to protect against military attacks. The assault left the school in ruins and the surrounding area stained with blood, described by a 16-year-old boy who witnessed the aftermath, including the bodies of three victims, including his brother. Since the military coup in February 2021, Myanmar’s military has faced resistance, resorting to airstrikes and aggressive tactics to suppress opposition, targeting civilian areas, including schools and medical facilities. While the military has not officially commented on Monday’s airstrikes, reports from junta-affiliated media outlets denied the incident. In January, the UN highlighted the military’s systematic targeting of places protected under international humanitarian law, including schools and medical facilities, with civilians often left with little to no warning. Karenni state has witnessed heightened conflict between the military and pro-democracy forces, leading to a surge in attacks on civilian areas, as observed in the recent escalation in November. The incident on Monday claimed the life of Maw Lay’s 12-year-old son, who was preparing for exams at the time. The attack, far from any active conflict zone, raises questions about the military’s motives, according to a 36-year-old teacher from the school. Another airstrike on Loi Nan Hpa village, nearby, resulted in the death of a villager and left a teacher severely injured, adding to the distress of the community. According to the Karenni Human Rights Group, over 80% of the state’s population has been displaced since the coup, with Monday’s attacks further exacerbating the plight of civilians, condemning the military’s disregard for innocent lives. The UN documented a significant rise in civilian casualties in Myanmar, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian crisis and the need for urgent intervention to protect the population from further harm.