"Dozens have been killed in a military strike on a hospital in Myanmar's western Rakhine state, according to an aid worker, a rebel group, a witness and local media reports, as the junta wages a withering offensive ahead of elections beginning this month. The situation is very terrible, said on-site aid worker Wai Hun Aung. As for now, we can confirm there are 31 deaths and we think there will be more deaths. Also there are 68 wounded and will be more and more."
"The hospital in Rakhine's Mrauk U township was struck late on Wednesday by bombs dropped by a military aircraft, said Khine Thu Kha, a spokesperson for the Arakan Army, which is battling the ruling junta along parts of the coastal state. The Mrauk U General Hospital was completely destroyed, Khine Thu Kha told Reuters news agency. The high number of casualties occurred because the hospital took a direct hit."
"UN human rights chief Volker Turk said such attacks may amount to a war crime and called for an investigation. A spokesperson for the US state department called the reports disturbing and said the military government should cease violence against civilians. Local media reports said dozens had been killed in the hospital strike, with photographs from the scene showing the shattered remains of the health facility, and shrouded bodies visible on the ground outside the facility after the attack."
A military airstrike struck Mrauk U General Hospital in Rakhine state, leaving the facility destroyed and causing mass casualties. An on-site aid worker reported 31 confirmed deaths and about 68 wounded, warning numbers may rise. The Arakan Army said bombs were dropped by a military aircraft and that the hospital took a direct hit. The junta did not respond to requests for comment. UN human rights leadership said such attacks may amount to war crimes and called for investigation, while the US described reports as disturbing and urged cessation of violence against civilians.
Read at www.theguardian.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]