Forty-two civilians killed by airstrikes in Rakhine
At least 42 people, including children, have been killed and 43 others have been injured by airstrikes carried out by the Burma Air Force on Kyauk Ni Maw village of Ramree Township in central Arakan State on Wednesday. Around 500 homes were destroyed. Ramree is located 278 miles (447 km) south of the Arakan State capital Sittwe.
“Since there were so many casualties, we urgently need medical supplies,” a Kyauk Ni Maw resident told DVB. The village is home to a large Muslim community. Ramree town was seized by the Arakan Army (AA) on March 11, It has wrested control of 15 townships from the military, including 14 in Arakan and Paletwa in southern Chinland, since it launched its offensive on Nov. 13, 2023.
The military has carried out six airstrikes against the AA after it announced that it was ready for dialogue with the regime following the fall of the Western Regional Military Command (RMC) headquarters in Ann Township on Dec. 20. The AA continues its fight for control of the three remaining Arakan townships: the capital Sittwe, the vital port town of Kyaukphyu, and the island of Munaung.
‘Close the sky’ calls for a global aviation fuel ban on Myanmar
The Blood Money Campaign released a report on Thursday called “Close the Sky: The Dire Consequences of Inaction on Aviation Fuel in Myanmar.” It documents how the Burma Air Force has carried out 4,022 airstrikes on civilians since the military coup on Feb. 1, 2021 up to November 2024, causing 3,417 casualties and 2,257 fatalities.
“We have over 180 schools in our areas and the Myanmar military has already destroyed 24 schools through its aerial attacks,” said an Internally Displaced Person (IDP) and airstrike survivor in Chinland. “Similarly, the military attacked Mindat hospital which both people from Chin State and nearby areas rely on.”
The report recommends the international community impose immediate sanctions on the export, sale or transfer of aviation fuel to Burma. Last April, the U.N. Human Rights Council (HRC) passed a resolution urging member states to abstain from exporting, selling or transferring aviation fuel to Naypyidaw. It calls for an international monitoring mechanism to be established and enforced by the U.N.
UN Refugee Agency wants regional countries to save Rohingya
In the first five days of this year, from Jan. 1-5, a total of 460 men, women and children have arrived by boat after weeks at sea to countries in the region. Ten people have reportedly died during the dangerous sea crossings. Indonesia had 264 arrivals on Jan. 5, while Malaysia had 196 on Jan. 3. In December, 115 Rohingya landed in Sri Lanka after six died at sea.
“Saving lives must be the first priority,” said Hai Kyung Jun, the director of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific. “We appreciate the steps taken by governments in the region to receive these vulnerable people who fled fighting and persecution back home and survived long days at sea with little food and water. We stand ready to provide support to governments and local efforts to assist them.”
In 2024, more than 7,800 Rohingya attempted to flee Burma and Bangladesh by boat – an 80 percent increase compared to 2023. Over 650 people died or were reported missing enroute, making it one of the world’s most perilous journeys. More children embarked on the voyage, accounting for 44 percent of total passengers, up from 37 percent in 2023. The proportion of women also increased to almost one third.
News by Region
AYEYARWADY—The military began repair works last week at an aircraft landing strip near the Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 18 in Hinthada Township, which is located 95 miles (154 km) from the Ayeyarwady Region capital Pathein. The military began building airstrips in Yegyi, Kyonpyaw and Shwethaungyan towns, which are located 43-53 miles (69-85 km) from Pathein, in December.
“Hinthada airstrip has not operated since the 1980s. It was being used as a golf course, but it is now being prepared for military aircraft landing,” a source close to the military told DVB on the condition of anonymity. The AA seized control of Gwa Township in southern Arakan State, located 57-92 miles (91-148 km) from Yegyi and Hinthada, in December.
MAGWAY—At least 15 military personnel, including pro-military militia members, were killed during two attacks by resistance forces, including the People’s Defense Force (PDF), in Pakokku Township on Tuesday. Pakokku is located 105 miles (168 km) north of the region’s capital Magway.
“We attacked a [military] supply convoy heading [north] towards Myaing,” said the group’s spokesperson. He added that there were no casualties among resistance forces. Regime media has not yet reported on the attack. DVB cannot independently verify the number allegedly killed by resistance forces.
MANDALAY—Six members of a military family, including military personnel and an assistant fire services director, were detained by a resistance group calling itself Aung San’s Land Natmauk on the Yangon-Mandalay Highway from Dec. 27-31.
“We arrested them in civilian clothes while we conducted two days of security checks on the way,” the group’s spokesperson told DVB. He added that security checkpoints were set up along the highway between Pyawbwe and Yamethin townships, 125 miles (201 km) from Mandalay.
NAYPYIDAW—Political parties told DVB that the regime’s Union Election Commission (UEC) has yet to issue any announcement regarding the election law. A total of 53 political parties have re-registered with the UEC since the 2021 coup. The regime released its preliminary population and household census at 51,316,756 on Dec. 31.
“We, the political parties, shared our difficulties to the regime leaders and UEC when we met in Naypyidaw, but there are no follow ups from them yet,” Aye Lwin, the Union of Myanmar Federation of National Politics party chairperson, told DVB. The elections, which are tentatively scheduled in November, will be held in 161 out of the total 330 constituencies nationwide.
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