A United Nations report states that the Myanmar military killed over 700 civilians during a six-month election period, with more than half being women and children.
On 22 Jun 2026, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) released a new report stating that the Myanmar military is responsible for the deaths of more than 700 civilians throughout the six-month election period that began the previous year and ended in January.
The report indicates that reliable sources have verified at least 702 deaths during the election period from August 2025 to January 2026, including 224 women and 153 children.
The election process was heavily criticized as a sham because major opposition parties were entirely excluded from participating.
Additionally, the report warned that “reduced international aid is exacerbating the hardships of millions of people.”
The Myanmar military staged a coup, overthrowing the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021, triggering a civil war that has caused thousands of deaths and displaced millions.
The coup also prompted armed groups in Myanmar to rise in resistance, and to this day, large parts of the country remain under opposition control.
The OHCHR report further states that airstrikes “remain the leading cause of damage and suffering to civilians.”
Sagaing region is considered “the most dangerous area for civilians as the military attempts to reclaim territory,” with 191 civilian deaths recorded during the six months, including 60 women and 30 children.
The report also addresses human rights abuses against the Rohingya, who face forced conscription by the Arakan Army, as well as killings, arbitrary arrests, and sexual violence.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said, “As if the people of Myanmar did not already suffer enough at the hands of the military, now they seem to have been forgotten by the outside world.”
“In many areas, funding for local protection is the only comfort amid ongoing targeting and unrestrained attacks by the military. Reducing aid will only worsen this suffering.”
/foreign news updates/https://www.thairath.co.th/news/foreign
Source:bbc