Civilians Flee Myanmar Military Offensive Ahead of December Elections
Civilians in rebel-held western Chin State are fleeing a Burmese military air campaign and ground offensive ahead of elections starting 28 December, with thousands displaced and some crossing into India's Mizoram state.
The military operation has targeted civilian sites, including a hospital in Rakhine State where at least 30 people were killed and over 70 injured.
In Chin State, airstrikes have hit at least three schools and six churches since mid-September, killing 12 people including six children. A school in Vanha village was bombed on 13 October, killing two students aged 7 and 12, verified by the BBC.
The National League for Democracy is not contesting the election; many senior leaders including Aung San Suu Kyi are jailed, and both civilians and rebels describe the vote as a sham.
The election will be held in phases with results expected around the end of January, as rebels suggest the process is designed to prolong military rule.
The Chin National Front and other rebel groups report heavy fighting, with about 50 fighters injured in the past month. Government forces are advancing from four directions, supported by airstrikes, artillery, and drones.
Displaced civilians, such as Iang Za Kim, have sought safety in Mizoram, sheltered in a rundown badminton court in Vaphai. Indian villagers have provided food and basic supplies.
Since the 2021 coup in February, Myanmar’s military government has restricted foreign journalism. Fighters who were young at the time of the coup, such as Abel (18) and Si Si Maung (19), have suffered severe injuries including amputations in the fighting.
Older refugee narratives, such as that of 80-year-old Ral Uk Thang, reflect ongoing displacement and hopes for democracy, though survival remains uncertain until stability returns.
