11-8-2024 (BANGKOK) A devastating drone attack on Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar has resulted in a staggering loss of life, with witnesses reporting dozens of casualties, including families with young children. The incident, which occurred on Monday near the Myanmar-Bangladesh border, has been described as the deadliest known assault on civilians in Rakhine state during recent weeks of intensified fighting between junta troops and rebel forces.
Eyewitness accounts paint a harrowing picture of the aftermath, with survivors desperately searching through piles of bodies to identify their loved ones. The attack reportedly struck down families who were waiting to cross the border into neighbouring Bangladesh, seeking refuge from the ongoing violence in Myanmar.
Among the victims were a heavily pregnant woman and her two-year-old daughter, underscoring the indiscriminate nature of the assault. Mohammed Eleyas, a 35-year-old survivor, recounted the heartbreaking loss of his wife and daughter in the attack. “I heard the deafening sound of shelling multiple times,” Eleyas told reporters from a refugee camp in Bangladesh, describing how he had attempted to protect his family by lying on the ground.
The exact death toll remains unclear, with estimates varying widely. Some survivors claim that more than 200 people perished in the attack, while others report seeing at least 70 bodies. The international aid organisation Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has confirmed treating 39 individuals who crossed into Bangladesh since Saturday with violence-related injuries, including mortar shell and gunshot wounds.
Disturbing videos circulating on social media depict the grim scene, showing bodies strewn across muddy ground amidst scattered belongings. Reuters has verified the location of these videos as just outside the coastal Myanmar town of Maungdaw, although the exact date of filming could not be independently confirmed.
The attack has reignited concerns about the ongoing persecution of the Rohingya, a predominantly Muslim minority group in Myanmar. More than 730,000 Rohingya fled the country in 2017 following a military-led crackdown that the United Nations described as having “genocidal intent”. The recent escalation of violence in Rakhine state has prompted a fresh wave of displacement, with many Rohingya attempting perilous journeys to seek safety in Bangladesh.
The responsibility for the attack remains contested, with both the Myanmar military junta and the Arakan Army, a rebel group active in the region, denying involvement and blaming each other. The international community has responded with condemnation, with Bob Rae, Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations, confirming the reports of the mass casualties.
