ALBAWABA - Hundreds of Rohingya people, including children, were killed as they were trying to escape violence by crossing the Naf River in Rakhine state.
Social media footage showed what appeared to be the aftermath of the attack, with bodies scattered across the ground following the drone strike.
Speaking with survivors, Nay San Lwin, co-founder of the Free Rohingya Coalition, stated the victims had traveled from villages such as Maung Ni, Myoma Taung, and Myoma Kayin Dan to try to reach the border. The drone strikes began at 5 p.m. that day, he stated.
"They told me several dozen, at least three to four dozen, drone bombs were dropped there. They are saying at least more than 200 were killed and around 300 injured. There is nobody to collect the dead bodies. Everyone is running to save their lives. Some are already in Bangladesh" Nay San Lwin stated.
Survivors who spoke with Reuters said they suspected at than 200 people were killed. A witness told the Associated Press that 150 people had been killed and many others injured.
In recent months, the Arakan Army, one of the armed organizations aiming to oust the junta, has taken control of major sections of Rakhine state from the military.
Both the militia and the Myanmar military accused one other of the attack. Activists claimed the Arakan Army was involved, which the group rejected. The activists said that for months, the organization has been targeting Rohingya civilians with massacres and burning their villages.
