Weekly Analysis: Women and Children Killed in Escalating Attacks by the Military Junta

February 10, 2025

Across Burma, civilians are facing ongoing threats to their safety and security. Women, children, and the elderly are particularly vulnerable, and the escalating offensives and attacks by the junta put them at greater risk. In targeted areas of the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM), including Mon State, Karen State, and the Tanintharyi region, several incidents of assaults by the junta were reported this week, resulting in the deaths and injuries of multiple women and children.

In Ye Township, Mon State, three women, including two internally displaced persons (IDPs), were injured when junta troops indiscriminately fired heavy artillery into Wapathae Village, Baelamu Village Tract, despite no active fighting in the area. On the night of January 24, troops from the Junta’s Artillery Regiment No. 317, based in Ye Township, launched five artillery shells into Wapathae Village. The shells exploded inside the village, injuring:

Naw Mu Tin (28 years old) – sustained injuries to her neck;

Naw Mu Chi (18 years old) – suffered injuries to her lower jaw and neck;

Naw Mu Paw (25 years old) – hit by shrapnel in her lower back

“Five shells landed, and as a result, two women were seriously injured and had to be taken to Lamine General Hospital for treatment. They still have shrapnel inside their bodies. The other woman is receiving medical care from a local doctor,” said a community member assisting the victims.

Naw Mu Tin and Naw Mu Chi are both IDPs who had fled their homes due to previous military offensives. The situation in Ye Township remains volatile. On January 9, after clashes erupted in the area, junta troops advanced towards Kyon Laung Village, killing two men near Ai Poke Village and detaining multiple villagers at Bokalay Monastery.

Local communities remain on high alert, fearing further indiscriminate attacks and forced displacements as the junta continues its military operations in the region.

In a separate incident, a 20-year-old woman was killed, and a 12-year-old child was injured when junta forces launched an indiscriminate artillery attack on Phar Kya Village, Kyarinseikyi Township, Karen State, according to a statement from the Karen National Union (KNU Central).

The attack occurred on February 1st at 2:30 PM. There was no fighting in the area at the time of the attack. Troops from Junta Battalion No. 12, stationed at Myauk Kone, fired a 170mm artillery shell, which landed inside a rubber plantation, setting parts of it on fire and damaging nearby homes.

Tragically, 20-year-old migrant worker, Nan Myint Myint San, suffered fatal injuries to her chest and died from the blast. Another victim, 12-year-old Mann Paing Paing, sustained shrapnel wounds but survived.

This latest indiscriminate attack on civilians has further heightened fear among local communities as junta forces continue to target villages with artillery shelling, even in the absence of conflict.

The international community also bears a responsibility to protect children in Burma. According to obligations under UNSCR 1325, it is essential to integrate a gender perspective fully when responding to the conflict and humanitarian crisis in Burma. Particular attention must be given to safeguarding the rights of women and children, preventing sexual and gender-based violence, ensuring equal participation for women as key stakeholders in decision-making processes, and addressing the rehabilitation needs of women and children.

Overview of Main Cases

Elderly Woman Loses Leg After Stepping on Landmine in Dawei’s Mitta Town
An elderly woman from Mitta Town, Dawei Township, lost one of her legs after stepping on a landmine while walking toward a plantation.

The incident occurred on February 3, at 2:00 PM, near a bridge at the exit of Mitta Town along the Dawei-Thi Khee road. The victim, 60-year-old Naw Ju Ni Hta, unknowingly stepped on the mine, which detonated instantly, causing severe injuries.

Young Woman Killed, Child Injured in Junta Artillery Attack in Karen State
A 20-year-old woman was killed, and a 12-year-old child was injured when junta forces launched an indiscriminate artillery attack on Phar Kya Village, Kyarinseikyi Township, Karen State, according to a statement from the Karen National Union.

The attack took place on February 1, at 2:30 PM. Troops from Junta Battalion No. 12, stationed at Myauk Kone, fired a 170mm artillery shell.

Three Women, Including Two IDPs, Injured by Junta Artillery Attack in Ye Township, Mon State
In Ye Township, Mon State, three women, including two internally displaced persons (IDPs), were injured when junta troops indiscriminately fired heavy artillery into Wapathae Village, Baelamu Village Tract, despite no active fighting in the area.

According to local sources, on the night of January 24, troops from the Junta’s Artillery Regiment No. 317, based in Ye Township, launched five artillery shells into Wapathae Village. The shells exploded inside the village.

The situation in Ye Township remains volatile. Local communities remain on high alert, fearing further indiscriminate attacks and forced displacement.