UN condemns deadly strike on Myanmar hospital

Amnesty I

A deadly air strike on a hospital in Myanmar’s Rakhine State has drawn sharp international condemnation, with rights groups and UN officials warning the attack may amount to a war crime. At least 33 civilians were killed when Mrauk‑U General Hospital was hit late on Wednesday, coinciding with International Human Rights Day.

Amnesty International said the strike reflected the military’s widening campaign of repression ahead of elections scheduled for later this month. Joe Freeman, the organisation’s Myanmar researcher, said the attack showed “utter disregard” for civilian life and must be investigated as a violation of humanitarian law. Amnesty’s Evidence Lab verified footage of the aftermath, which it said was consistent with an air strike.

Local sources, including the political wing of the Arakan Army, reported that two bombs were dropped, killing a baby among the victims and injuring around 80 people. The Arakan Army, which seized control of Mrauk‑U in 2024, now holds most of Rakhine State following the collapse of a ceasefire in 2023. Thousands of Rohingya civilians remain trapped in the conflict.

The United Nations echoed Amnesty’s concerns. UN human rights chief Volker Türk said he was “appalled” by the attack and warned that such strikes “may amount to a war crime”. He called for an independent investigation and urged the international community to hold perpetrators accountable. The WHO said the hospital — the area’s main emergency and surgical centre — had been “severely damaged”, with operating theatres and inpatient wards destroyed.

Conflict monitors say the junta has intensified air operations year after year since the 2021 coup, which ended a decade‑long experiment with limited civilian rule. This latest strike marks the 67th attack on healthcare facilities verified by WHO Myanmar in 2025 alone.

The military has announced elections beginning on 28 December, presenting them as a path back to stability. But international observers and ousted lawmakers dismiss the vote as an attempt to legitimise continued military rule. Rebel groups have vowed to block polling in areas under their control.

Türk warned that the run‑up to the vote has already been marked by “acute insecurity”, widespread arrests, voter coercion and expanding surveillance. Far from easing tensions, he said, the process risks deepening fear and polarisation across the country.

-2025-12-14