On April 11th, around 10:30 pm, a junta airstrike in the western region of Phekhon Township resulted in the tragic deaths of three civilians, including 3-year-old childs, and left five others injured, according to local sources. The attack occurred despite no active fighting in the area.
“It happened in the western part of Dee Maw Hso, near the Peking market. Two bombs were dropped there, and another one in Lway Yin. Three people died, and others were injured. It was yesterday (April 11th) at 10:30 pm,” a local man told Kantarawaddy Times.
The three deceased victims are reported to be a 3-year-old boy, a 12-year-old girl, and a 65-year-old woman, all from the same family.
“The three who died were the homeowner’s mother, son, and granddaughter. So, we could say they were all family,” the local man added.
The junta’s airstrike used 500-pound bombs which drop three times, resulting in the deaths of the three civilians, injuries to five others, and damage to several houses.
Among the injured are girls aged 7, 13, and 15, a 34-year-old woman, and a 37-year-old man, as reported by the Karenni Human Rights Group (KnHRG) on April 12th.
Locals emphasize that the targeted area was far from any conflict zone and inhabited solely by civilians. Residents and displaced individuals seeking refuge are now fleeing to other locations for safety.
This incident follows another airstrike on March 22nd, where the junta targeted a hospital in Lae Aik village, western Phekhon Township. Two men were killed and several others injured in that attack. The KnHRG has accused the junta of repeatedly targeting civilian areas with 500-pound bombs, even in the absence of active fighting.