The United Nations Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) has issued a statement requesting evidence related to the military’s airstrike on a school in Kyauktaw, Rakhine State, which resulted in civilian casualties including students. The attack, which occurred on September 12, killed at least 22 people, with the majority being students, and injured more than 20 others. The mechanism is specifically seeking information from eyewitnesses and those with direct knowledge of the incident.
The IIMM has called for the submission of photographs and videos documenting injuries, structural damage, aircraft and weapons used in the attack, information about victims, details about the pilots involved, and records of orders given. The mechanism has provided a Signal contact number for secure submission of evidence, emphasizing the importance of witness safety and security when sharing information. This incident represents one of the most severe attacks on educational institutions since the military coup in February 2021.
The attack on the Kyauktaw school has further exacerbated the suffering of ethnic civilian populations in Rakhine State, who are already facing ongoing conflicts, killings, forced displacement, and severe food shortages. The IIMM has indicated that such indiscriminate attacks on civilians could constitute war crimes or crimes against humanity. The mechanism, established by the UN Human Rights Council in 2018, is tasked with collecting and analyzing evidence of the most serious international crimes and violations of international law committed in Myanmar since 2011. Its purpose is to facilitate justice and accountability by preparing case files that can be used in national, regional, and international courts.
