Two women killed in airstrike on Oakkan village, Kawlin Township in northwest Myanmar
On 21 October, at 10:30 am, two women were killed in an airstrike launched by Myanmar’s junta on Oakkan village, located in the western part of Kawlin Township, Sagaing Region. Kawlin Info, a local news monitoring group, confirmed that several other villagers were injured in the bombing.
“The bomb hit the centre of Oakkan village, resulting in the deaths of two women, with reports of injuries. Further details are still being gathered,” said an official from Kawlin Info Group.
Shortly after the initial attack, another airstrike occurred at 11:00 am in the western part of Kawlin.
Oakkan village is a thriving community, home to both local residents and people displaced by conflict in Kawlin town. The village serves as a hub where villagers and displaced individuals live and trade together.
“There has been no fighting in the area, so this is clearly an attack targeting civilians. Rescue teams are enroute, but we’re still awaiting further details,” said Ko Thae Gyi, head of the People-To-People Group, which assists refugees fleeing violence in western Kawlin.
While clashes between military forces and local defence groups have taken place in areas bordering Kawlin and Wuntho in recent days, the western part of Kawlin Township has remained conflict-free.
This attack comes less than a month after military forces carried out an airstrike on Oakkan village on 30 September, which resulted in the deaths of four people, injuries to others, and significant damage to homes.
