The ongoing conflict in Karenni State has led to the deaths of 35 women and children in 2024 due to attacks by the Myanmar military junta, according to records from the Department of Women and Children under the Karenni Interim Executive Council (IEC).
These deaths occurred as a result of airstrikes, artillery shelling, and landmine explosions, with most deaths caused by airstrikes and artillery attacks.
“Twenty women sustained injuries, and 20 women were killed. For children, 44 were injured, and 15 lost their lives. These numbers are based on the records we have documented,” said Maw The Mar, Deputy Head of the Department of Women and Children under the IEC.
Among the casualties, 15 children under the age of 18 and 20 women were killed, with some victims being as young as one year old.
The reported figures are primarily based on accessible records. Ground-level data may show higher numbers of casualties and can be different.
According to the Karenni National Women’s Organization (KNWO), a total of 57 women and children have been killed over the past three years.
“From 2022 to 2024, we’ve documented a total of 57 deaths within our reach,” said Maw Phray Myar, Chairwoman of KNWO.
Most of the women killed were aged 30 to 45, while most child casualties were under 15 years old.
Since the military coup on February 1, 2021, and up until January 15, 2025, a total of 6,180 civilians have been killed across Myanmar, including 704 children under 18 and 1,373 women, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) report released on January 15, 2025.