Arakan records Myanmar’s highest combined civilian death and injury toll: NLTA

By Admin 31 Oct 2026

DMG Newsroom

31 October 2026, Sittwe

Arakan (Rakhine) State recorded Myanmar’s highest combined civilian death and injury toll during the week of October 23–29, with at least 14 people killed and 29 injured in attacks targeting civilians, according to a report by Nyan Lynn Thit Analytica (NLTA).

The research organisation’s weekly At a Glance: On Armed Struggles report documented 137 incidents nationwide, including 40 military operations and 97 incidents classified as attacks targeting civilians.

Across Myanmar, at least 52 civilians were killed, 86 injured and 50 arbitrarily arrested during the seven-day reporting period.

Arakan recorded 43 deaths and injuries combined, followed by Magway Region with 32 and Sagaing Region with 21, according to the report.

Airstrikes by Myanmar’s military junta were the most frequently documented form of attack targeting civilians. NLTA recorded 36 such incidents across 16 townships in 10 states and regions, resulting in at least 24 deaths and 57 injuries.

Arakan experienced nine reported airstrike incidents, the highest number recorded in any state or region during the week.

Among the incidents highlighted by NLTA was an October 23 attack in Sittwe Township, the capital of Arakan State, which the organisation reported had killed nine civilians and injured 16 others.

However, casualty figures and accounts of the circumstances surrounding the Sittwe violence have varied across reporting sources.

The findings come amid intensified fighting between Myanmar’s military and the Arakan Army (AA), an ethnic armed organisation that controls most of Arakan State in western Myanmar.

Sittwe remains under junta control, while clashes in surrounding areas, including neighbouring Ponnagyun Township, have heightened concerns over civilian safety and access to essential services.

Elsewhere, NLTA reported that military airstrikes in Kantbalu Township, Sagaing Region, on October 23 killed five civilians and injured another five.

The organisation also documented 26 incidents involving junta troops raiding villages nationwide.

Magway recorded the highest number of arbitrary civilian arrests, with 22 people detained, followed by Kachin State with 12 and northern Shan State with seven.

Meanwhile, NLTA recorded 40 military incidents across 25 townships, including 33 combat engagements. Sagaing Region registered the highest number of military incidents, with eight.

Although reported military incidents declined compared with the previous week, attacks targeting civilians increased, indicating that reduced battlefield activity did not necessarily improve civilian safety.

NLTA said its findings were compiled from reports published by 43 news media outlets and statements issued by revolutionary organisations.

The research group cautioned that actual incident and casualty figures could be higher because reports that could not be verified were excluded from its monitoring.

The findings underscore the continuing civilian toll of Myanmar’s conflict, particularly in Arakan, where ongoing fighting and aerial attacks have compounded humanitarian and security concerns.

DMG could not independently verify all the incidents and casualty figures documented in the report.