MRAUK-U, MYANMAR – An airstrike by Myanmar’s military junta on a crowded clinic in Rakhine State reportedly killed more than 30 civilians and left scores injured.
Bombs strike crowded clinic in Rakhine State
According to local media, bombs hit a clinic in the Mrauk-U township of Rakhine State that was caring for hundreds of patients. Reports said more than 30 civilians were killed, including children and people receiving treatment. Witnesses described direct hits on the facility, with many of the wounded fighting for their lives.
Witnesses describe direct hits and chaos
The news portals The Irrawaddy and Than Lwin Khet News reported that the target was a clinic with about 300 beds. Witnesses said two bombs were dropped directly on the building, catching patients, medical staff and relatives inside by surprise. At least 70 people were said to have been injured, and helpers on the ground feared the death toll could rise further.
Overwhelmed staff and desperate relatives
Residents from the surrounding area said the attack came without warning. The clinic was reportedly overcrowded because other health facilities in the region had closed. One nurse said the building had been “overfilled” when the bombs struck, and many of the injured had to be treated provisionally because there were hardly any alternatives.
Children among the dead and wounded
Local accounts indicated that children and patients were among those killed. Exact figures were difficult to confirm due to the chaotic situation on the ground. Helpers in the area spoke of a particularly high number of vulnerable people among the victims, as the clinic had served many residents as a last refuge for medical care.
Rights group condemns ‘deliberate massacre’
The Southeast Asian human rights organization APHR sharply condemned the attack.
“This is a deliberate massacre of defenseless civilians,”
said APHR, describing the strike as a violation of fundamental humanitarian principles. International observers called for an investigation and better protection for medical facilities, while there was still no response from the military leadership to the accusations.
Escalating violence since the 2021 coup
Myanmar had been gripped by intense conflict since the military coup of February 2021, in which the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi was removed from power and resistance was harshly suppressed. The United Nations estimated that more than 6,800 civilians had been killed and over 3.5 million people displaced since the takeover. Air attacks had repeatedly hit populated areas, injuring and killing people not directly involved in the fighting.