The NGO Save the Children has confirmed that two of its employees were killed.
The NGO Save the Children confirmed on Tuesday that two of its employees were killed in a massacre blamed on the Burmese army, after which the charred remains of at least 35 people were found in eastern Burma.
“It is with deep sadness that we confirm today that two members of the Save the Children teams were among at least 35 people, including women and children, who were killed on Friday (December 24th) in an attack by the Burmese military in Kayah state, “the NGO said in a statement.
Junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun admitted on Saturday that clashes erupted in the area on Friday, and that soldiers killed a number of people, without giving further details.
According to the Myanmar Witness Observatory, “35 people, including children and women, were burned and killed by the military on December 24 in Hpruso township.”
“We are shocked by the violence against civilians and our personnel”
Save The Children said Tuesday that its two killed employees were very young fathers. “The soldiers forced people out of their cars, arrested some, killed many and burned their bodies,” added the NGO, which employs around 900 people in Burma and has decided to suspend its activities in Burma. Kayah State and several other regions.
“We are shocked by the violence against civilians and our staff, who are dedicated humanitarians, supporting millions of children in need across Burma,” said its Executive Director Inger Ashing.
In October, the NGO said its office in the western town of Thantlang was destroyed by junta shelling that also razed dozens of homes following clashes with a group. local anti-junta.
On Monday, the new UN special envoy for Burma, Noeleen Heyzer, said she was “deeply concerned” about the escalation of violence in the country and called for a ceasefire between the junta and its opponents. on the occasion of the new year.
Burma has been in chaos since the February coup, and more than 1,300 people have been killed in the crackdown by the armed forces, according to a local watch group.
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