Tragic artillery attack on Myanmar refugee camp results in 29 deaths, including women and children

In a refugee camp close to Myanmar’s border with China, artillery fire reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 29 individuals, including women and children.

The sources state that this was one of the worst attacks on civilians since military rule was resumed.

Following a coup in 2021, ethnic minority armies and a resistance movement have been engaged in a bloody conflict in many parts of Myanmar, hoping to undermine military rule after a harsh crackdown by security authorities.

According to several sources, including the shadow National Unity Government (NUG), the bombardment in Kachin State that happened at midnight on Monday was the result of military action.

According to a junta official, the military was not at fault.

“We are investigating. We always take care of border peace situation,” Zaw Min Tun told People Media, adding that the explosion may have involved an ethnic rebel group’s own munitions.

According to sources, artillery struck a camp for internally displaced persons around 5 kilometers (3 miles) from a post in the border town of Laiza operated by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), which has been at odds with Myanmar’s military for years.

According to Kachin media, 30 persons were slain. The death toll could not be independently verified by Reuters, and KIA spokespersons could not be reached for comment immediately.

The NUG decried what it called a barbaric onslaught on civilians and demanded that the international community intervene to stop the crimes and bring Myanmar’s generals on trial.

“This act of military council is a war crime and a crime against humanity,” NUG spokesperson Kyaw Zaw said, adding an attack at the border with China showed the junta did not respect its neighbour’s demand for peace and stability.

The United Nations in Myanmar expressed its serious worry over the event on Facebook, stressing that “civilians should never be a target.”

The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not react quickly to a request for comment.

Laiza is the capital of KIA, one of the most populous of the hundreds of ethnic groups who have been fighting the military for decades.

It is located near the Chinese border and is home to many people who live in and around the town in displacement camps. According to the UN, the violence in Myanmar has displaced over one million people.

According to a student activist who is now in Laiza, the explosion “shaken” the entire town, and inhabitants were leaving.

“We are on alert because we worry that there can be a second bomb attack,” said Justin, who declined to provide a last name. “The locals are worried about that and so people are relocating now.”

Kachin media shared a series of graphic images on Facebook of destruction, which could not immediately be verified by Reuters. One showed casualties on the floor, another more than a dozen body bags lined up.