Quarterly Newsletter: Airstrikes, Artillery and Mortar Shelling Taking a Devastating Toll on Civilian Lives (April – June 2026)

The fundamental rights and security of civilians in Karenni State remain under attack by the military junta. The increasing deployment of airstrikes, artillery, mortar shells, and drones has led to a growing sense of unrest, as local people feel unsafe in their homes, places of worship, schools, clinics, and other communal areas. Those who have been displaced and are living in temporary shelters are exposed to extreme weather conditions, including heat, wind and rain. This exposure has damaged their temporary homes and contributed to a rise in health-related conditions. The military’s violence has further deepened their sense of insecurity about their futures.

In internal displacement camps, the lack of safe, reliable access to clean water has led to outbreaks of illness, particularly among children and older adults. Outbreaks of diarrhea and malnutrition are on the rise, creating additional strain on families.

In Hpruso township alone, over 400 people sheltering in a displacement camp have been affected. Malnutrition is rampant among children and pregnant women, sometimes causing more fatalities than direct conflict. In combination with the scorching heat, the immune systems of the most vulnerable are weakening. The deliberate targeting and destruction of medical clinics in airstrikes by the junta has also led to local people feeling discouraged and fearful of seeking treatment. Of additional concern is the limited supply of medicine and health care staff, who are already operating with minimal resources and facing threats to their safety.

In response to emerging health gaps, the Karenni State Interim Executive Committee (IEC) is implementing a decentralized, community-based healthcare model that includes mobile medical teams and traditional medicine to improve access. In the meantime, local health workers, including backpack teams and those from the Civil Disobedience Movement, as well as leading ethnic women’s organizations, are working to close the gaps by providing basic supplies and awareness.

On 6 May, the Karenni Human Rights Group (KnHRG) issued a statement calling for urgent accountability in response to the rise in human rights violations. Since the beginning of the year, the military junta has been committing crimes that have led to the further isolation of civilians. In addition, in the latest KnHRG report, “Hanging Onto Hope,” civilians repeatedly shared their ongoing struggles for survival amid continued attacks by the military junta.

Concerns about drone surveillance and airstrikes remain persistent, especially for those who have been displaced multiple times and have nowhere else to go. Airstrikes are among the most frequent and brutal tactics used by the Burma Army, often targeting vulnerable groups such as women, children, and the elderly. These attacks happen suddenly, without warning, instilling fear and trauma in communities already damaged by the junta’s criminal actions.

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