Arakan News Agency
The Karen National Union (KNU) has strongly condemned an airstrike carried out by the Myanmar military and ruling military council on Mrauk-U General Hospital in Arakan State, describing the attack as a grave violation of international humanitarian law that amounts to a war crime.
In a statement issued on 14 December, the KNU said the airstrike on 10 December targeted Mrauk-U Hospital with 500-pound bombs, killing 34 civilians and injuring more than 60 others. The group stressed that attacks on essential civilian infrastructure, particularly public medical facilities, constitute a serious breach of international humanitarian law, which strictly prohibits assaults on civilians and protected sites.
The statement also reported that the Myanmar military carried out another airstrike on Mrauk-U city on 12 December at around 9:00 p.m., using two jet fighters, further endangering the lives and property of civilians and deepening fear and instability in the area.
The KNU said it strongly condemns the deliberate targeting of civilians and protected structures by the Myanmar military, including hospitals, religious buildings, and educational institutions, asserting that such acts are crimes against the people and must be recognized as war crimes under international law.
The group called on the international community to take urgent and effective measures to halt what it described as ongoing atrocities, ensure accountability for those responsible, and take immediate steps to deliver justice and effective protection for civilians in Arakan State and across Myanmar.
The condemnation comes amid continued military escalation in Arakan State since the 2021 military coup, with repeated airstrikes and shelling hitting civilian areas and vital infrastructure. In recent months, fighting has intensified between the Myanmar military and Arakan militias (Buddhist separatist – AA), resulting in significant civilian casualties, mass displacement, and a sharp deterioration in humanitarian conditions, leaving thousands without access to basic health services.
Local and international reports indicate that attacks on medical facilities in Arakan have become increasingly frequent, raising serious concerns over systematic violations of international humanitarian law in the absence of accountability and amid continuing impunity.
