United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has strongly condemned the attack in Myanmar. The official newsletter of the UN said the air strike reportedly killed at least 100 people in an opposition stronghold in the northwestern part of Myanmar.
Offering his condolences, the UN Secretary-General called upon the Myanmar military ‘to end the campaign of violence against the Myanmar population throughout the country, in line with Security Council resolution 2669.’
Up to 100 people, including children, were killed in Tuesday’s air strike in the Sagaing area, making it the deadliest in a recent string of military air attacks, reports Reuters.
The Acting President of Myanmar’s National Unity Government (NUG), Duwa Lashi La formed by the elected members of parliament which was not allowed to meet after military took control of state power in February 2021, said that Myanmar’s air force dropped multiple bombs while its helicopters strafed the village where several hundred people had gathered.
The US and European Union have also condemned the attacks. US State Department Spokesperson Vedant Patel said the incident ‘underscored the regime’s disregard for human life’. The European Union expressed its shock at the incident and said it will continue to hold those responsible fully accountable.
The spokesperson for the military government of Myanmar Zaw Min Tun accepted that the airstrike on the village took place.
But the explosion took place killing people because the anti-government forces known as ‘People’s Defence Forces’ (PDF) had stockpiled ammunition in a nearby building, said the military spokesperson. He accused the PDF of falsely claiming civilian deaths when their forces were killed.