September 20, 2024
In Thandwe Township, Rakhine State, the military has conducted airstrikes dropping 26 bombs, resulting in civilian casualties and the discovery of an unexploded bomb. Local sources report that the air attacks occurred on September 16 at around 3 PM, when the military targeted the area with aerial bombings on two occasions.
According to reports, the 26 bombs dropped by the military hit several villages inhabited by civilians, including Kyaukgyi, Soe Pone, Pauk Tu, and Myo Gyi, leading to fatalities and injuries among the residents.
A local source revealed, “In Pauk Tu village, a 32-year-old man named Ko Aung San and a 93-year-old woman named Daw Thein Kyaung lost their lives. Additionally, nine others from the village were severely injured, along with three cows that were killed. These villages are entirely unrelated to military operations.”
Pauk Tu village is home to over 150 households, housing around 600 residents, primarily consisting of Rakhine and ethnic Chin populations. Most of the bombs dropped fell in Pauk Tu village, causing the casualties, and an unexploded bomb has also been found nearby.
Additionally, more than ten homes were reportedly destroyed, and the residents of Pauk Tu village have fled to safer areas due to the ongoing danger. Thandwe Township is controlled by the Arakan Army (AA), while the military has been struggling to maintain its hold in Rakhine State, targeting civilian areas and villages.
The Arakan Army has fully controlled 11 towns, including Paletwa, and is actively engaged in combat against the military in towns such as Gwa and Maungdaw.
