Nay Pyi Taw - In a tragic incident, a displaced persons camp in northeastern Myanmar near the Chinese border was hit by an artillery strike, resulting in the loss of at least 29 lives, including children. The camp is situated in an area controlled by the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO), an insurgent group engaged in conflict with Myanmar's ruling junta. According to a spokesperson from KIO, all the victims were civilians. This devastating attack is one of the deadliest episodes in the prolonged conflict in Kachin State.

Kachin officials believe that the junta has intensified its attacks in the region over the past year due to growing Kachin support for other insurgent groups opposing the military government. Myanmar has been mired in a larger conflict since a military coup in 2021 replaced the civilian government, leading to an increase in the use of airstrikes by the military against its opponents.

The exiled National Unity Government (NUG) has squarely blamed the junta for the camp attack, denouncing it as a "war crime and crime against humanity." In contrast, Junta spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun denied the military's involvement in the attack. He suggested that the destruction may have been caused by stored explosives.

Disturbing images shared by local media depict the retrieval of bodies from the wreckage, with numerous body bags lined up. The assault took place late on Monday night in the Mong Lai Khet Quarter, approximately two miles away from the Kachin Independence Army's (KIA) headquarters in the mountainous town of Laiza. KIO officials informed the BBC that parts of the camp were obliterated by powerful explosions around midnight.

Footage of the aftermath reveals extensive damage to many houses and a high number of casualties. Kachin officials suspect that at least 11 children are among the deceased, while 56 more individuals were injured in the attack, with 44 of them receiving medical treatment.

The United Nations in Myanmar expressed deep concern about the reports of casualties in the camp, emphasizing that internally displaced persons (IDP) camps should never be targeted, as they serve as places of refuge.

Although the area around the camp has a history of conflict spanning decades, locals note that no recent fighting had occurred near the camp. It is plausible that the attack was carried out from the air. Notably, almost a year ago, the Myanmar air force used precision-guided bombs to strike an open-air concert at another Kachin base, resulting in the death of over eighty individuals.

Last October, more than 60 people lost their lives when the military launched airstrikes on Anampa in Kachin State. The Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the armed wing of KIO, is one of Myanmar's largest and most formidable insurgent groups. It has been in conflict with the military for decades, even prior to the 2021 coup.

The military's grievances against KIA stem from both its armed clashes with the central government since a ceasefire broke down in 2011 and its support for other insurgent groups. KIA has had a long-standing alliance with the Arakan Army in Rakhine State and is believed to be supplying weapons to other insurgent factions in Myanmar.

News courtesy : BBC