Myanmar Military Bombs in Ramree Township

Ramree Township, Arakan State The cries of anguish and despair echoed through the smoke-filled skies of Kyauk Ni Maw on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. What was once a peaceful fishing village on the coast of Ramree Township turned into a fiery graveyard as the Myanmar military unleashed deadly airstrikes, killing 41 civilians and leaving 52 others injured, most of them Rohingya.

As the fires consumed around 600 homes, survivors scrambled to save their loved ones from the rubble, their hands trembling with fear that the bombs could return at any moment. “We’ve been treating the injured since last night,” said a resident, who asked not to be named for safety reasons. “But we don’t dare keep too many patients in the hospital. What if they come back? We are dying here.”

The Arakan Army (AA), which controls the area, confirmed there was no fighting in the village at the time of the attack. AA spokesperson Khaing Thu Kha condemned the airstrike:

“The targeting of innocent people where there is no fighting is a very despicable and cowardly act … as well as a blatant war crime.”

Residents say the airstrikes appeared deliberate, with jets circling above before releasing their deadly payloads. Pro-military social media accounts later claimed that Kyauk Ni Maw was a supply hub for the AA, but there was no evidence to support this.

When asked about the attack, the junta’s Rakhine State spokesperson, Hla Thein, coldly replied that he was “not aware” of what had happened.

In the aftermath, the scene was one of unspeakable devastation. Entire families were torn apart, and those who survived were left to pick through the ashes of their lives. Local medics worked tirelessly, often without proper equipment or medicine, to save those they could.

“There are people with burns, shrapnel wounds, and worse,” said another resident. “More are coming to help, but it’s overwhelming. We are helpless.”

For the Rohingya living in Kyauk Ni Maw, the attack is a chilling reminder of the violence that has haunted their people for decades. Even in death, they are denied dignity as they lie among the ruins of what they once called home.

The world remains silent as the military continues its campaign of terror in Rakhine State. This attack, one of the deadliest in recent months, raises urgent questions about accountability and the value of human life in a land torn apart by war.

The people of Kyauk Ni Maw, still shrouded in grief and smoke, are left with only their voices and their pain. And they are asking: “When will it end?”

Photo Caption: Villagers searching through the rubble of their homes after the January 8 airstrike on Kyauk Ni Maw. (Photo Credit: Arakan Princess Media)

Rohingya Vision News