Junta airstrikes have completely destroyed a United Nations (UN) office building, that used to provided essential humanitarian aid, in Wai Thar Li Village, Maungdaw Township, Arakan State.

Junta airstrikes hit the UN offices at approximately 8:30 pm on 9 September 2024, according to an Arakan Army (AA) 10 September statement

The AA spokesperson U Khaing Thukha said to Narinjara: "The UN offices were entirely destroyed. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office and other associated offices were also destroyed.”

As well as destroying the main building the airstrikes also destroyed dormitories that had previously been used by UN staff and nearby homes.

The UN staff and staff from other international humanitarian agencies had already evacuated from Maungdaw on 12 February 2024.

The UN office in Maungdaw Township was established to facilitate UN operations, collaborate with affiliated organisations, and coordinate international humanitarian aid efforts.

Before the UN staff left, in early February, to protect the offices from airstrikes, the letters UN were written in large white letters on a blue background on the roof of the main UN building.

Despite the building being clearly identifiable from the air, the junta airstrike still hit the buildings, which shows the junta’s complete disregard for humanitarian organisations, according to U Khaing Thukha.

He said: "The fascist, terrorist junta’s airstrikes on UN offices clearly indicate they no longer recognise UN organisations. Since these organisations provide humanitarian aid, it seems the junta is now rejecting all forms of humanitarian work.”

Following the attack on the UN offices, junta airstrikes hit an AA controlled temporary detention center at the 2nd Border Guard Police Battalion (BGP) in Maungdaw Town at about 9:30 pm on 9 September.

Over 50 people,  including prisoners of war (PoWs), were killed in the airstrike and more than 70 others were injured, according to the AA.