Kantarawaddy Times
At least ten children under the age of 18 — including a six-month-old girl — have died across Myanmar, including Karenni State, over the past month, according to figures from the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).
The tally covers the period from July 1 to August 11, and airstrikes by the military junta caused the largest share of these deaths.
Among those killed was a six-month-old girl who died on August 4 when junta forces carried out a drone and bomb attack on a village in western Pruso Township.
“Children and teenagers who understand nothing are being attacked, so of course they’re left traumatized. And when schools have to close temporarily because of the security situation, their education suffers too. All of this is a direct consequence of the junta’s attacks,” said a man involved in aiding displaced people fleeing the fighting.
AAPP figures also show that over the past month, airstrikes killed a total of 52 people nationwide — 21 women and 31 men — including the ten children under 18.
Separately, Myanmar’s Burmese Women’s Union (BWU) reported on August 12 that during July alone, 26 people were killed nationwide: 24 from aerial bombing — including three pregnant women and four girls under 18 — and two from heavy weapons fire.
By region, the deaths included one in Karenni State, eight in Sagaing Region, eight in Bago Region, five in Rakhine State, two in Mandalay Region, one in Magway Region, and one in Shan State.
Junta forces continue to commit crimes by using airstrikes, drones, and heavy weapons against areas where civilians live within territory held by resistance forces. The Karenni Human Rights Group has said it is important to document these crimes with evidence now, so they can be pursued through legal accountability in the future.
