The Karenni Human Rights Group Calls for an Urgent Response to the Rapidly Deteriorating Situation of Human Rights in Karenni State

6 May 2026

For Immediate Release

The Karenni Human Rights Group (KnHRG) is alarmed by the rapidly deteriorating human rights situation in Karenni State. Since the beginning of the year, the military junta has been committing crimes, including airstrikes, landmines, drone attacks, artillery firing and more. Their actions have had consequential impacts as forced displacement continues to rise. Since the beginning of 2026, KnHRG has reported at least 27 civilians killed and 44 wounded.

In the latest report by KnHRG, “Hanging Onto Hope,” civilians repeatedly told KnHRG of their struggles for survival amid ongoing attacks by the military junta. Fears of drone surveillance and airstrikes conducted by the military junta are an ongoing concern, especially for those who have been repeatedly displaced and have nowhere else to flee. Airstrikes are among the most common and violent attacks carried out by the Burma Army, often targeting innocent, vulnerable groups, such as women, children and the elderly. These assaults occur without prior warning and have caused fear and trauma in communities already suffering from the junta’s criminal actions. As the struggle against the military regime grows each day, the unfolding mental health crisis also demands urgent attention, particularly as violence triggers trauma and rising cases of PTSD among survivors of attacks and resistance fighters.

The gaps in the provision of health, education, and awareness-raising services on the ground are being filled by local civil society organizations. However, securing sustainable, long-term funding remains a challenge. International stakeholders, including donors, must acknowledge the situation and the many areas that require financial support to assist conflict-affected communities, including refugees and IDPs.

KnHRG is calling for an urgent response that prioritizes the protection of civilians and aligns with the calls being amplified by human rights defenders, including sanctions on aviation fuel and a long-overdue referral of the human rights situation in Burma to the International Criminal Court. There must be an end to impunity and justice for all who have suffered under the regime’s tyrannical rule.

Media Contact
May Zin Latt: Director
Email: karenni.hrg@gmail.com
Signal: +95 9 44931 0828

Ko Banya: Co-Founder
Email: banya7881@gmail.com
Signal: +95 9 254 150 436

Download the statement (English)