January 23, 2023
The Myanmar military conducted a second airstrike on a Buddhist monastery sheltering refugees in Pa Lait Thwee village, Min Dat Township, Chin State, according to the Min Dat Township Public Administration Department. The attack, carried out without any ongoing battles, caused severe damage to homes and religious buildings.
At around 11:00 a.m. today, military aircraft dropped bombs on the village, damaging residential homes and the monastery. Just an hour later, at noon, artillery fire was launched from a military base in Min Dat town, continuing the assault.
The bombing and shelling targeted the monastery and nearby houses where volunteers aiding displaced persons were staying, destroying a monastery hall and two homes. The Min Dat Township Public Administration Department condemned the attacks as intentional strikes on religious sites and volunteers supporting refugees.
This follows a similar incident on January 22, when military aircraft bombed Sun Taung village, also in Min Dat Township, without any fighting in the area. That airstrike, along with artillery shelling from a military base, resulted in the destruction of homes and injuries to a man and a woman.
