May Kyi Shin — Poor five-year-old Khaing Saw Wai hopes and believes that her forearm, ripped off by a junta artillery shell, will one day grow back, because she is too young to understand that is impossible.
Her forlorn hope that her left arm will grow back refuses to fade, even though it had to be amputated above the elbow after she was almost killed by a junta artillery shell.
Khaing Saw Wai’s life changed in the blink of an eye just over a year ago when a junta artillery shell took not only her arm, but also both her parents from her.
Her family lived in Mrauk-U Town, a town in northern Arakan (Rakhine) known for its ancient temples, pagodas, and stupas. Khaing Saw Wai had once enjoyed a peaceful and joyful life with her father, U San Maung, and her mother, Daw Hla Hla Than, who were married 10 years ago. She also adored her nine-year-old brother, who lived with her grandfather.
But that peace was shattered on one fateful day that remains etched in her memory, 24 December 2023.
On that day, a barrage of artillery shells rained down on Mrauk-U's Sinchaseik Ward, where Khaing Saw Wai’s family lived. In a desperate attempt to escape, her parents fled with her on a motorbike, to seek refuge at her grandfather’s house in Mrauk-U Town's Kyat Zay Ward.
But, disaster struck midway through the journey. An artillery shell exploded close to their motorbike, and in a split second, the young girl lost both her parents, and her left lower arm.
The blast sent shrapnel flying, striking 35-year-old U San Maung and 26-year-old Daw Hla Hla Than with merciless force. It killed both of them and so badly damaged Khaing Saw Wai’s lower arm it had to be amputated.
Khaing Saw Wai’s grandfather, U Hla Gyi, explained: “The artillery shell struck a pile of bricks just five yards away from them. The explosion sent shrapnel flying, tearing into the motorbike they were riding.”
Despite suffering terrible injuries, Khaing Saw Wai’s extraordinary resilience stunned her family. Though she was in excruciating pain she did not cry once.
But worse was to come for the young girl. “When she regained consciousness after the amputation, the first word she softly whispered was ‘Mom.’ Then, there was a quiet gasp—a moment of painful realisation that her mother was no longer there,” said her grandfather, U Hla Gyi.
Fortunately, Khaing Saw Wai still has a brother. He was not with her and her parents on the motorbike that fateful day because he lived with his grandfather who had been raising the boy since he was an infant, because his parents could not afford to support him.
With her parents gone, Khaing Saw Wai now also has to live with her grandfather. Though it is over a year since she lost her lower arm she still struggles daily to adapt to her new reality. Despite this, those that know her are inspired by her strength and unwavering determination.
“Even though she has lost her arm, she faces each challenge with incredible resilience. She is still so young, but her spirit is strong beyond measure,” said U Hla Gyi.
The responsibility of raising both his grandchildren now falls upon U Hla Gyi’s shoulders.
According to locals the artillery shell that killed Khaing Saw Wai’s parents and tore her arm off was allegedly fired by the junta’s Mrauk-U Township based Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 377, as it tried to defend Mrauk-U Town against an offensive by the Arakan Army (AA).
The AA eventually took control of Mrauk-U Town on 8 February 2024 after capturing the LIB 377 base and the junta’s Thinkyittaw Mountain base that was manned by soldiers from LIB 378 and LIB 540, in Mrauk-U Township.
During the fighting for Mrauk-U Town the junta launched airstrikes, fired artillery and small arms. 27 civilians, including four children and Khaing Saw Wai’s parents, were killed and 48 others, including Khaing Saw Wai and six other children, were injured.
