In Chin State, Myanmar, the civilian population faces an escalating humanitarian crisis as the military junta intensifies its use of airstrikes, targeting not only armed opposition groups but also civilian infrastructure like schools and hospitals. Hospitals such as one in Wammathu village have been destroyed, leaving critical healthcare inaccessible. Similarly, schools have been bombed, as seen in Mindat Township, where cluster bombs and indiscriminate attacks have devastated educational and residential areas. These strikes have killed or injured civilians, including children, and displaced thousands.
To mitigate the risks, communities have resorted to organizing informal schools in hidden or remote areas, away from traditional school buildings that are often targeted. This effort aims to ensure some continuity of education while protecting children from the junta’s air assaults. Many families live in constant fear, retreating to bunkers or fleeing into forests when airstrikes are imminent.
These attacks, part of a broader strategy to crush resistance by terrorizing the population, are exacerbating the suffering in the region, where humanitarian access is already severely limited. International human rights organizations have called for action, including sanctions on jet fuel supplies, to curb the junta's ability to conduct airstrikes.
Ramlau village on the main road between Falam to Hakha was ransacked by the Myanmar military (Tatmadaw) during the passage of their militarty convoy going through Chin State. The military convoy was attacked continously by Chin Defense Forces (CDF) and Chin National Defence Forces (CNDF), the Myanmar military took revenge actions by burning and exploding 19 houses in Ramlau and ordering airstrikes. The population had already evacuated the village a couple of days before the passage of the convoy. Ramlau has 850 habitants, 3 weeks after the raids and airstrikes barely 50% of the population has returned from hiding in the hills and surrounding farms. The airstrikes which are still a high risk targetted the school building sheltering IDPs. Tatmadaw stayed 4 days in the village until 7 May 2023, during which they looted and burned houses. Ramlau village, Falam township, Myanmar, May 2023
Deforestation and land burning for agriculture purposes around villages in Chin State. The land is equally distributed among the families of the villages and every year there is a land rotation system so that the soil has several years to regenerate before it is being cultivated again. However because of the mountainous terrain and rainy season, landslides do occur regularly. Falam township, Chin State in Myanmar, June 2023
Two sisters displaced from Thantlang, a town that has been totally destroyed and where heavy fighting between the Chin National Army and the Myanmar military is ongoing. The villages around Thantlang township where most people took refuge are also unsafe and frequently targetted by airstrikes. Thangklua village near Thantlang, Chin State, Myanmar, June 2023
A villager and his son from Ramlau who had his house and belongings burned and destroyed by the Myanmar military 3 weeks ago. Ramlau is a Chin mountain village on the main road between Falam to Hakha. The village was ransacked by the Myanmar military (Tatmadaw) during the passage of their militarty convoy going through Chin State. The military convoy was attacked continously by Chin Defense Forces (CDF) and Chin National Defence Forces (CNDF), the Myanmar military took revenge actions by burning and exploding 19 houses in Ramlau and ordering airstrikes. The population had already evacuated the village a couple of days before the passage of the convoy. Ramlau has 850 habitants, 3 weeks after the raids and airstrikes barely 50% of the population has returned from hiding in the hills and surrounding farms. The airstrikes which are still a high risk targetted the school building sheltering IDPs. Tatmadaw stayed 4 days in the village until 7 May 2023, during which they looted and burned houses. Ramlau village, Falam township, Myanmar, May 2023
Kyaw Swar, unit commander of CNDF at an outpost in the mountains of Chin State. Before the military coup in the coutry Kyaw Swar was a teacher. Lian Hna, Falam in Myanmar, May 2023
School classes held under random houses for fear that schools would be targetted by airstrikes as has been the case repeatedly throughout Myanmar and Chin State. Leilet village in Falam township, Burma, June 2023
Chin National Defense Force military positions overlooking a Myanmar military base. Lian Hna camp in Falam township of Chin State, Burma. May 2023
Chin villagers in Ramlau village on the main road between Falam to Hakha. The village was ransacked and looted by the Myanmar military (Tatmadaw) during the passage of their militarty convoy going through Chin State. The military convoy was attacked continously by Chin Defense Forces (CDF) and Chin National Defence Forces (CNDF), the Myanmar military took revenge actions by burning and exploding 19 houses in Ramlau and ordering airstrikes. The population had already evacuated the village a couple of days before the passage of the convoy. Ramlau has 850 habitants, 3 weeks after the raids and airstrikes barely 50% of the population has returned from hiding in the hills and surrounding farms. The airstrikes which are still a high risk targetted the school building sheltering IDPs. Tatmadaw stayed 4 days in the village until 7 May 2023, during which they looted and burned houses. Ramlau village, Falam township, Myanmar, May 2023
Kitchen in a CNDF military outpost in the hills of Falam township, Chin State, Myanmar, May 2023
A burned down house in Ramlau village on the main road between Falam to Hakha. The Chin village was ransacked by the Myanmar military (Tatmadaw) during the passage of their militarty convoy going through Chin State. The military convoy was attacked continously by Chin Defense Forces (CDF) and Chin National Defence Forces (CNDF), the Myanmar military took revenge actions by burning and exploding 19 houses in Ramlau and ordering airstrikes. The population had already evacuated the village a couple of days before the passage of the convoy. Ramlau has 850 habitants, 3 weeks after the raids and airstrikes barely 50% of the population has returned from hiding in the hills and surrounding farms. The airstrikes which are still a high risk targetted the school building sheltering IDPs. Tatmadaw stayed 4 days in the village until 7 May 2023, during which they looted and burned houses. Ramlau village, Falam township, Myanmar, May 2023
Internally displaced family from Thantlang, a town that has been totally destroyed and where heavy fighting between the Chin National Army and the Myanmar military is ongoing. The villages around Thantlang township where most people took refuge are also unsafe and very often targetted by airstrikes. Thangklua village near Thantlang, Chin State, Myanmar. June 2023
Chin villagers from Ramlau, a mountain village on the main road between Falam to Hakha. The village was ransacked by the Myanmar military (Tatmadaw) during the passage of their militarty convoy going through Chin State. The military convoy was attacked continously by Chin Defense Forces (CDF) and Chin National Defence Forces (CNDF), the Myanmar military took revenge actions by burning and exploding 19 houses in Ramlau and ordering airstrikes. The population had already evacuated the village a couple of days before the passage of the convoy. Ramlau has 850 habitants, 3 weeks after the raids and airstrikes barely 50% of the population has returned from hiding in the hills and surrounding farms. The airstrikes which are still a high risk targetted the school building sheltering IDPs. Tatmadaw stayed 4 days in the village until 7 May 2023, during which they looted and burned houses. Ramlau village, Falam township, Myanmar, May 2023
A villager in his tea shop shelter after his house and business was burned and destroyed by the Myanmar military when they passed through the village 3 weeks ago. Ramlau is a Chin mountain village on the main road between Falam to Hakha. The village was ransacked by the Myanmar military (Tatmadaw) during the passage of their militarty convoy going through Chin State. The military convoy was attacked continously by Chin Defense Forces (CDF) and Chin National Defence Forces (CNDF), the Myanmar military took revenge actions by burning and exploding 19 houses in Ramlau and ordering airstrikes. The population had already evacuated the village a couple of days before the passage of the convoy. Ramlau has 850 habitants, 3 weeks after the raids and airstrikes barely 50% of the population has returned from hiding in the hills and surrounding farms. The airstrikes which are still a high risk targetted the school building sheltering IDPs. Tatmadaw stayed 4 days in the village until 7 May 2023, during which they looted and burned houses. Ramlau village, Falam township, Myanmar, May 2023
Chin National Defense Force commander and some soldiers of his unit at lunch time in their temporary barracks somewhere in Falam township. Chin State, Myanmar, May 2023
Leilet village in Chin State. Falam township, Myanmar, May 2023
Internal displaced person (IDP) from Thantlang, a town that has been totally destroyed and where heavy fighting between the Chin National Army and the Myanmar military is ongoing. The villages around Thantlang township where most people took refuge are also unsafe and very often targetted by airstrikes. Thangklua village near Thantlang, Chin State, Myanmar. June 2023
Tlangkhua village where numerous people sought refuge from the nearby combat zones. Thantlang township, Chin State, Burma. May 2023
Than Win Hlaing is 32 years old and from Rakhine State. He deserted the Myanmar military in October 2022 and joined the civil desobdience movement (CDM) after giving himself over to Chin Defence Forces. He was first sent to a CDM camp in Champai and was recently recruited as a cook for a unit of the Chin Defence Forces operating in Falam township of Chin State. He has been enrolled in Tatmadaw for 20 years since he became an orphan at the age of 12. Since he was enrolled in the Myanmar Army at the age of 12 he could never return to Rakhine and seek contact with his siblings and relatives. With Tatmadaw he was stationed in Nay Phi Daw, Maputi and Bago from where he was sent to Karen State during the 2010-2012 ethnic cleansing campaigns against the Karen ethnic minority group, which he has witnessed. Lian Hna CNDF outpost, Falam, Myanmar, May 2023
A Chin child at a temporary shelter in the village assembly hall. She and her family are displaced from Thantlang, a town that has been totally destroyed and where heavy fighting between the Chin National Army and the Myanmar military is ongoing. The villages around Thantlang township where most people took refuge are also unsafe and very often targetted by airstrikes. Thingual village near Thantlang, Chin State, Myanmar. June 2023
Chin National Defense Force military positions overlooking a Myanmar military base. Lian Hna camp in Falam township of Chin State, Burma. May 2023
Chin National Defense Force check-point in Falam township. Chin State, Myanmar, May 2023
Chin woman from Ramlau who had her house destroyed and looted by the Myanmar military and who is temporarly living in the school with her familiy. Ramlau in Falam township, Chin State, Burma. May 2023
Tlangkhua village where numerous people sought refuge from the nearby combat zones. Thantlang township, Chin State, Burma. May 2023
Villagers building a fence to prevent cows to wander into the fields surrounding the village. Tikhuangtum village in Thantlang township, Burma, June 2023
Chin villager from Ramlau who had his house destroyed by the Myanmar military and who is temporarly living in the school with his familiy. Ramlau in Falam township, Chin State, Burma. May 2023
Satawm village which is slowly being re-populated after heavy combat last November and December made the population flee. Falam township, Chin State, Burma, May 2023
Chin child entering the classroom. Singai school in Falam township, Myanmar, June 2023
Satawm village which is slowly being re-populated after heavy combat last November and December made the population flee. Falam township, Chin State, Burma, May 2023
A boy playing football in the mountaneous region of Chin in Burma. Falam township in Chin State, Myanmar, May 2023
Thingual village in Thantlang township, Chin State, Myanmar, June 2023
School classes held under random houses for fear that schools would be targetted by airstrikes as has been the case repeatedly throughout Myanmar and Chin State. Leilet village in Falam township, Burma, June 2023
