The plight of children in Burma continues to worsen amidst a brutal military campaign. In the past month alone, the Burma Army has unleashed nearly 500 airstrikes across the nation, claiming the lives of more than 40 children and damaging 15 schools. This alarming trend is not just statistics; each airstrike signifies a tragic loss of innocent life and shattered futures.
One of the most horrifying incidents occurred on September 12, when a military jet targeted a boarding school in Thayat Tabin village, Rakhine State. As students slept, the jet dropped two 500-pound bombs, killing at least 22 people—most of them children. Witnesses reported the chaos and devastation, raising alarms over the military’s relentless assault on civilian targets, particularly educational institutions that should be sanctuaries for children.
The military’s actions reflect a significant escalation in its aerial bombardments, designed to strike fear into the hearts of the population and suppress resistance. The shadowy National Unity Government has condemned this violence, highlighting the most egregious strikes against civilians. “This is evil,” said a representative from Free Burma Rangers, who called for global prayers for the survivors facing unimaginable loss. Reports detail a family of six devastated by a mortar attack just a day prior, resulting in the tragic deaths of a grandmother, mother, father, and three children left wounded.
The ongoing violence in Burma intensifies a dire humanitarian crisis that has displaced over 3.5 million people within its borders. Millions more have fled their homes, seeking refuge in neighboring countries like Thailand and Bangladesh. The UN estimates that nearly 22 million—over a third of the population—now urgently need humanitarian assistance. Under the guise of emergency rule, the junta maintains its grip on power through terror and repression.
The looming threat of further violence intertwines with a scheduled election in December, deemed a sham by many. Although the junta claims it will hold a general election, the opposition and pro-democracy forces have been systematically barred from participating. Voting will only occur in 102 of the country’s 330 townships, primarily those tightly controlled by the regime. In contrast, areas that have fallen out of the junta’s grasp, such as ethnic regions in Kachin and Rakhine, are set to be excluded from the electoral process.
Amidst this backdrop, attacks on schools and civilians may amount to war crimes, according to international observers. Despite widespread condemnation from organizations like UNICEF, the junta continues to disregard warnings. UNICEF remarked, “Children and families are paying the ultimate price,” urging that schools, homes, and essential services must remain safe. Yet, impotent from their distant offices, organizations attempting to influence change face a harsh reality: without tangible support on the ground, their declarations hold little weight.
The situation remains dire, as the military regime appears undeterred, relying heavily on its air power to crush any semblance of resistance. With each airstrike, the voices of the oppressed grow quieter, their suffering compounded by the indifference of the international community. The resilience of the people of Burma shines through these dark times, but the brutality they endure raises pressing questions about the world’s responsibility to intervene in such crises.
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