In brief
A new UN Human Rights Office report shows Myanmar’s military was responsible for at least 702 civilian deaths in a six‑month period spanning August 2025 to January 2026, including 224 women and 153 children. Air strikes were the biggest source of harm, with the Sagaing region the deadliest, claiming 191 lives. Major incidents included an October attack on Chaung‑U that killed 24 people, a December aerial bombing of a tea shop that killed 19, and ongoing abuses against Rohingya communities. The report warns that a decline in international assistance is amplifying the suffering of millions trapped in a civil war that began with the 2021 coup. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk called the targeted killings a serious violation of human rights and urged sustained aid to protect civilians.
A UN Human Rights Office report finds Myanmar’s army killed more than 700 civilians over a six‑month period from August 2025 to January 2026, a time that coincided with the country’s government‑backed election.
According to credible sources the minimum death toll stands at 702, with 224 women and 153 children among those killed. The killings occurred as the junta declared the election a sham, barring major opposition parties from taking part.
The report identifies air strikes as the single largest cause of destruction and suffering. In particular, the Sagaing region saw 191 deaths, including 60 women and 30 children, making it the most dangerous area for civilians.
Key incidents highlighted include an October attack that killed 23 people—four of them children—when a drone struck a civilian gathering front of a school in Chaung‑U. In December, a military aircraft bombed a tea shop in Tabayin while a football match drew a crowd, killing 19 and wounding 20.
The investigation also reports on the abuse of Rohingya people, pointing to forced recruitment, arbitrary arrests and sexual violence carried out by the Arakan Army.
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk criticised the global community for withdrawing funding, stating: "The people of Myanmar have not suffered enough… Funding for localised protection efforts was once the only solace from the suffering caused by constant targeting and indiscriminate attacks by the military. This pullback just compounds that injury."
The conflict started with the 2021 coup that removed democratically elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi from power and escalated into a civil war, leaving millions displaced. While the military now holds the presidency, opposition forces retain significant control over large parts of the country.
For more detailed coverage, read the full BBC report: Myanmar army killed over 700 civilians in six months, UN says.
