Nearly 900 civilians killed or injured in Arakan State over one year: DMG tally

By Admin 31 Dec 2025

DMG Newsroom

31 December 2025, Mrauk-U

Nearly 900 civilians were killed or injured in Arakan State between January 1 and December 31, 2025, due to military conflict, according to a DMG tally.

DMG data show that at least 880 local residents were killed or injured during the period as a result of fighting between Myanmar's military regime and the Muslim armed group Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), as well as landmines and other weapons.

The deaths and injuries were caused by airstrikes, drone bombings, artillery shelling, arrests and killings by the military regime, explosions from landmines and other remnants of war, and attacks by ARSA.

DMG figures indicate that aerial attacks, artillery fire, landmines and remnants of war linked to the military regime killed 294 civilians, including 87 children, and injured 556 others. Attacks by ARSA resulted in 21 deaths and nine injuries, bringing the total number of casualties to 880.

Mrauk-U Township recorded the highest number of casualties from aerial attacks, with 209 victims, followed by Kyauktaw Township with 150 and Kyaukphyu Township with 115, according to DMG.

"The military regime has been targeting schools and private schools in Arakan State with airstrikes. According to the Geneva Conventions, civilians should not be harmed, and these actions constitute deliberate violations," said U Myat Tun, director of the Arakan Human Rights Defenders and Promoters Association, in an interview with DMG.

ARSA, which operates after infiltrating from Bangladesh, has been active in Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships, where it has frequently ambushed, abducted and killed civilians, DMG has learned.

The military regime continues to carry out targeted attacks on civilians in townships controlled by the Arakan Army and in areas where fighting is ongoing, placing local residents at constant risk.

Airstrikes have also hit civilian homes, schools, health facilities and religious buildings, killing many civilians, including health workers and monks.

On December 29, the military regime bombed Ngapali town in Thandwe Township, killing nine locals and injuring 13 others. On December 10, an airstrike on Mrauk-U Hospital killed 33 civilians and injured 77 others.

Families of victims, along with local and international organisations, have repeatedly urged the international community to take action against the military regime for alleged violations of international criminal law.

"We call on the UN to step up its investigation and take action against the military regime's human rights abuses. We continue to advocate for human dignity, rights and justice," U Saw Zan Wai, president of the American Arakan Council (AAC), told DMG.

Under customary international humanitarian law, civilians and civilian objects must be protected during armed conflict, and those responsible for violations may be prosecuted for war crimes.

Despite these provisions, the military regime continues to conduct airstrikes, arrests and killings across the country with impunity.