Two more children die, bringing death toll from Myanmar junta airstrike on Depayin school to 24

Two children who were among more than 100 people injured by a deadly airstrike on a school in Sagaing Region’s Depayin Township on Monday have died, bringing the total number of dead so far to 24, according to resistance sources. The latest fatalities were identified as eight-year-old second-grade student Aung Zeya and 11-year-old third-grader Pyae Pyae Nyein. Both died of their injuries late Tuesday evening, an official with the local resistance administration told Myanmar Now. Many others remain in danger of succumbing to their injuries, the official added. “There are many who were severely wounded, both children and adults, but there’s nowhere for them to get the medical treatment they need,” he said, adding that some of the victims have had to be moved repeatedly in search of care. On Monday morning, Myanmar’s military dropped two bombs on the village of Oe Htein Twin, directly hitting the school as students were preparing for exams. Twenty students and two female teachers were killed instantly. According to the official, the attack also left 105 people injured, including 40 who lost limbs or suffered other severe injuries. Following the attack on Oe Htein Twin, other schools in Depayin Township operating under the publicly-mandated National Unity Government (NUG) have been temporarily closed due to safety concerns. The NUG’s Ministry of Education has also closed schools in Magway Region’s Myaing and Yesagyo townships, which have also faced heavy aerial bombardment by the regime. According to data released by the NUG’s Ministry of Human Rights, more than 240 schools have been destroyed by junta airstrikes since January 1, 2023. The attacks have continued despite the regime’s recent extension of a temporary ceasefire put in place early last month in the wake of a deadly earthquake that struck central Myanmar on March 28. In addition to schools, the junta also routinely targets hospitals and religious buildings, according to the NUG’s Ministry of Human Rights.

Two more children die, bringing death toll from Myanmar junta airstrike on Depayin school to 24

Many others remain at risk of dying due to a lack of available healthcare, according to local resistance administrators

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