Myanmar Airstrike Destroys Hospital, 34 Dead and 80 Injured

Myanmar: What happened last night in Myanmar's western Rakhine state shook the entire area. An army airstrike took place on a general hospital in the Mrauk U area under the control of the Arakan Army. Within seconds, this hospital that had hopes of treatment became a pile of debris. The patients and medical staff present inside could not even control themselves. In this incident, 34 people lost their lives, and about 80 people were injured.

Two sudden loud explosions in the night

According to local rescue officer Wai Hun Aung, late at night when most people were sleeping, a jet plane dropped two bombs. The first bomb fell directly on the recovery ward of the hospital. The patients present there had no chance to save themselves. The second bomb fell near the main building, destroying a large part of the hospital.

When Wai Hun Aung reached the hospital in the morning, there was chaos everywhere. He said that bodies of 17 men and 17 women had been found. Taxis, motorcycles, and nearby buildings parked outside were also badly damaged by the flying debris.

Army's silence, people's restlessness

Despite the attack, the army has not yet accepted any operation in this area. But what he saw in the eyes of rescue workers and local people is more true than any official statement. Many people were seen crying in the remains of the hospital while searching for their family members. The injured are being treated by taking them to temporary centers, where there is a severe shortage of resources.

Who is the Arakan Army?

The Arakan Army is an armed organization of Rakhine's ethnic minority community, which wants greater independence from Myanmar. Since 2023, this group has intensified the conflict and has taken control of most of the towns in Rakhine.

Rakhine's history is already full of wounds. After the army campaign in 2017, lakhs of Rohingya Muslims were forced to flee to Bangladesh. Tension still persists between the Buddhist Rakhine and Rohingya. In such a situation, this attack again refreshed those wounds.

People's fear and uncertain future

The attack on the hospital is not just a story of a building collapsing. This is the pain of those families who lost their loved ones. This is the compulsion of those doctors and nurses who, despite being injured themselves, are trying to save the lives of others.

People living in Rakhine say that they no longer know when and where the next attack will take place. Every day is passing amidst uncertainty and fear. This incident clearly shows that this conflict in Myanmar is not just a political or military issue. Here the common people are paying the highest price.