Dozens of civilians have been killed or injured from fighting between the Burma Army and Arakan Army (AA) in the last month in southern Chin State, according to a Chin rights group.

Salai Lian, the spokesperson for Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO), said civilians in Paletwa township frequently hear gunfire around their villages but with sporadic phone service available in the township it’s been difficult to get news about what’s happening. The government is blocking the internet for more than one million people in Rakhine and Chin states.

At least 28 Chins died in Paletwa township from March 9 until April 7 and about 40 were injured, Salai Lian told NMG.

Last November, the Burmese government renewed its commitment to protect minors at the National Children’s Summit organised on the 30th anniversary of the Convention of the Rights of the Child in Naypyidaw. But children were among the casualties killed by Burma Army’s airstrikes in Paletwa township in the last month.

“The Myanmar (Burma) military has been deliberately targeting civilians through the use of airstrikes from fighter jets,” said a statement released this Wednesday by 139 Civil Societies from 29 nations that called for an end to fighting in Chin and Rakhine states.

At least 21 people, including children, were killed by air attacks by the Burma Army on March 14 and 15, while others died during air attacks on March 31 and April 7, the statement said. “As the whole world is taking measures to protect against the coronavirus pandemic, the targeting of innocent civilians in southern Chin State, through the use of airstrikes and other military operations, is causing tragic and unnecessary loss that amount to war crimes.”