In a tragic escalation of violence, more than 20 civilians, including children, lost their lives in an airstrike that targeted a monastery in Lin Ta Lu village, located in central Myanmar. This tragic incident, reported by an anti-junta fighter and a local resident, highlights the ongoing humanitarian crisis resulting from the civil war that erupted when the military ousted a democratically elected government in 2021.
The airstrike took place around 1:00 am on Friday, striking a hall within the monastery where vulnerable internally displaced persons had sought refuge. The anti-junta fighter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for safety reasons, revealed that 22 individuals were confirmed dead, including three children. Additionally, two other victims remain hospitalized in critical condition.
“They had thought it was safe to stay at a Buddhist monastery,” the fighter lamented. “But they were bombed anyway,” underscoring the devastating reality faced by civilians attempting to find safety amid ongoing conflict.
A local resident verified the destruction of the monastery hall and recounted witnessing the grim aftermath. He described seeing bodies being transported to a cemetery at dawn on Friday and counted a total of 22 corpses, many of which exhibited severe injuries. “Many of the bodies had head wounds or were torn apart. It was sad to see,” he stated, also requesting anonymity.
The Sagaing region, where the airstrike occurred, is already grappling with the repercussions of a catastrophic 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck in March, resulting in approximately 3,800 fatalities and displacing tens of thousands. Despite earlier claims of a truce between the junta and various armed groups after the earthquake, reports indicate that airstrikes and ground fighting have persisted.
This recent attack follows a disturbing trend of violence against civilian targets, including a May airstrike on a school in Oe Htein Kwin village that tragically claimed the lives of 20 students and two teachers. Amidst this ongoing turmoil, the junta’s spokesperson, Zaw Min Tun, has not responded to inquiries regarding the incident, leaving many questions unanswered as the humanitarian crisis deepens.
