A deadly air strike on a hospital in western Myanmar has killed at least 31 people, an on-site aid worker told international media on Thursday, marking one of the deadliest single attacks as the junta ramps up its military campaign ahead of controversial elections set to begin this month.
Wai Hun Aung, an aid worker at the scene in Mrauk-U, Rakhine State, described the aftermath as “very terrible,” saying the death toll is expected to rise. At least 68 people were injured when a military jet bombed the town’s general hospital on Wednesday evening.
Images from the site showed more than 20 shrouded bodies lying outside the hospital as rescue efforts continued through the night.
Air Strikes Surge Ahead of December Polls
Myanmar’s military has sharply escalated its use of air power since civil war broke out following the February 2021 coup that toppled a decade-long experiment with democracy. Conflict monitors say air strikes have increased every year, becoming one of the junta’s most lethal tools against resistance-held areas.
The regime insists national polls — beginning December 28 — will bring stability and an end to fighting. But rebel groups controlling large swathes of the country have vowed to block the elections, dismissing the process as illegitimate.
The junta has responded by launching aggressive operations to retake contested regions, with civilians increasingly caught in the crossfire.
Rakhine State Under Heavy Fire
Mrauk-U, located near the Bangladesh border, has seen a surge in clashes in recent weeks as Arakan Army insurgents push to reclaim territory. Residents say the military has retaliated with artillery and air strikes, often hitting civilian sites — including schools, villages and now, a hospital.
Local officials could not immediately confirm the motive behind the hospital attack, and junta spokespeople were unreachable for comment.
Humanitarian workers warn that the situation is deteriorating rapidly, with medical facilities, displacement camps and community shelters becoming frequent targets.
As Myanmar’s crisis deepens, rights groups fear the coming election period — already rejected by opposition forces — may trigger even more violence, leaving civilians to bear the brunt of a conflict now entering its fourth year.
