Airstrikes on school kill 18 in Sagaing Region
Two airstrikes killed at least 18 civilians—most of them children—and injured 50 others at a school in Ohhteintwin village of Depayin Township, Sagaing Region, on Monday, according to residents. The school was reportedly operated by the National Unity Government (NUG). Depayin is located 40 miles (64 km) north of the region’s capital Monywa.
The death toll could not be confirmed as rescue operations were still underway. A resident told DVB that there was no fighting between the People’s Defence Force (PDF) and regime forces in the village. The Burma Air Force has carried out airstrikes on resistance-controlled areas since the regime ceasefire was extended from April 30—with a lapse between May 1-5—up to May 31.
This marks the second time that the regime has targeted a school in Depayin since Sept. 16, 2022, when an airstrike killed 13 civilians, including seven children at a school in Letyatkone village. DVB has documented that at least 419 civilians have been killed by 611 air and artillery strikes carried out by the regime since March 28 with 472 of these attacks occurring after the ceasefire first began on April 2.
Chin resistance forces seek funds for wounded members
The Chin National Defence Force (CNDF) is seeking $100,000 USD to provide prosthetics and medical support for over 140 wounded members of the Chin Brotherhood and its allied resistance groups who have lost limbs, vision or hearing during the offensive to seize Falam Township in northern Chinland. Falam is located 68 miles (109 km) north of the state capital Hakha.
“Most of our wounded fighters are under age 25,” Salai Timmy, the CNDF spokesperson, told the media during an online press conference on Saturday. He added that nearly 90 resistance members were killed by regime forces in Falam. The Chin Brotherhood, along with at least 15 allied resistance groups, captured the last regime outpost, the Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 268, in Falam on April 7.
The resistance controls 14 towns in Chinland, including the Burma-India border town of Rihkhawdar. Chin Brotherhood spokesperson Salai Yaw Man claimed in December that resistance forces controlled over 80 percent of Chinland. Hakha, as well as Thantlang 22 miles (35 km) west of Hakha, and Tedim 117 miles (188 km) north of Hakha, are under regime control.
Regime post-quake tourism plan faces backlash from survivors
The regime Ministry of Hotels and Tourism faced criticism from survivors of the March 28 earthquake after inviting tourists to areas impacted by the quake, claiming that disaster tourism can offer knowledge about hazards on Friday. The quake’s epicenter was in Sagaing Region, and the five other regions hardest hit were Mandalay, Magway, Bago, Naypyidaw and southern Shan State.
“Tourism income may help restoration efforts but visitors’ safety is uncertain due to ongoing aftershocks,” a resident of Inle Lake in Nyaungshwe Township of southern Shan State told DVB on the condition of anonymity. Residents now living outdoors since March 28 told DVB that they have received little to no humanitarian aid from Naypyidaw or the U.N.
The Pa-O Youth Organization reported that at least 100 were killed and 3,255 buildings collapsed in 25 villages near Inle Lake on March 28. A Mandalay resident told DVB that everyone is on high alert after an unknown number of quake-damaged buildings collapsed during heavy rain on Saturday. The regime Department of Meteorology and Hydrology has recorded 170 aftershocks since March 28.
News by Region
BAGO—The PDF withdrew its forces from the regime’s Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 598 in Shwegyin Township on Sunday. Sources told DVB that regime troops recaptured the outpost on Saturday. Shwegyin is located 64 miles (102 km) north of the region’s capital Bago.
“Aircraft and drones dropped bombs for hours on end, forcing us to retreat,” a PDF member told DVB. Residents from 11 villages in Shwegyin and Waw townships have been forced to flee their homes due to fighting between resistance and regime forces since April.
MAGWAY—Residents of Kyaukhtu town in Saw Township told DVB that thousands of residents from 10 villages have been forced to flee their homes due to airstrikes May 1-10. Kyaukhtu is located 163 miles (262 km) south of the region’s capital Magway.
“Aircrafts flew from Tada-U Air Base carried out airstrikes,” a PDF spokesperson in Saw Township told DVB. The number of casualties and the extent of the damage is unknown due to the lack of telecommunications in the region.
MON—Four civilians were injured and 20 homes were destroyed by airstrikes on Winkan village of Kyaikhto Township on May 10-11, according to residents. Kyaikhto is located 87 miles (140 km) north of the state capital Mawlamyine.
“A fighter jet dropped five bombs on the village,” a Kyaikhto resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity. A resistance force member said there was no fighting in Kyaikhto but that regime forces have increased in number in Theinzayat town, located 22 miles (35 km) north of Kyaikhto.
(Exchange rate: $1 USD = 4,400 MMK)
