By Niamh Gillen
In the morning of Monday 12 May, the Myanmar military junta carried out an airstrike in the village of Oe Htein Kwin, within the Depayin township, in Myanmar’s Sagaing state. The attack hit a school in the village, killing 24 civilians, including 22 children and 2 teachers, and injuring at least 102 others.
Various media sources reported witnesses describing decapitated corpses and scattered body parts in the aftermath of the strike, including severed fingers, blood-soaked school bags, school uniforms and bloodstains on desks and chairs. The youngest victim was reported to be seven years old.
Explosive violence by the junta has escalated significantly since the 2021 coup, which plunged Myanmar into civil war. AOAV recorded an 857% rise in civilian casualties from explosive weapons between 2021 and 2024. So far in 2025, 1,129 civilians have been reported killed or injured, with the junta responsible for 95% (1,068) of these casualties.
Children continue to suffer disproportionately. In 2024, 242 children were reported killed or injured, with an additional 109 affected in the first five months of 2025. Notably, 98% of civilian casualties and 93% of incidents in 2025 occurred in populated areas—where children are most vulnerable.
Attacks on schools have been recorded each year since 2021. In 2024 alone, four such attacks resulted in 151 casualties (45 killed), while eight school-related incidents were recorded in 2023, killing 50 and injuring others. On average, 8.6 civilians were harmed per school attack in 2024—a trend that shows no sign of abating in 2025.
Sagaing, where this incident occurred, has recorded the highest number of child casualties from explosive violence between 2021 and 2025 so far, with 247 children killed or injured. Rakhine is the second worst impacted state for children casualties, with 164 children killed or injured.
AOAV reiterates the importance of the international community working together to bring an end to this conflict, to ensure peace and stability is restored in Myanmar. The ongoing suffering of the Myanmar people must be at the forefront of all diplomatic efforts in relation to the conflict. AOAV reiterates its condemnation of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and urges the cessation of such weapon use immediately.