700+ Myanmar civilians killed in six months, UN report finds

Tue Jun 23 2026 10:04:30 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The UN says Myanmar’s military killed 702 people, including women and children, during the 2021–22 election period – a stark reminder of the country’s brutal civil war.

A fresh United Nations report reveals that 702 civilians, including 224 women and 153 children, were killed by Myanmar’s army during a six‑month election campaign in 2021‑22. The worst casualties came in the Sagaing region, where 191 people died, including 60 women and 30 children. Air strikes were identified as the largest source of destruction, and the report warns that dwindling international aid compounds the suffering. The findings underscore the military’s ongoing crackdown during a contested election that excluded major opposition parties and fueled a sprawling civil war.

The UN’s latest report shocked the world by showing that Myanmar’s army killed 702 civilians in just six months between August 2021 and January 2022. This includes 224 women and 153 children, highlighting how the conflict touches the most vulnerable.

The worst region was Sagaing, where the army’s fighting left 191 dead – 60 women and 30 children – from a single air strike on a school assembly. In the month of October, 23 people, including four children, were killed when munitions struck a candlelit protest.

The UN says air strikes were the biggest source of destruction, and that with international assistance shrinking, millions of civilians are left with little support for protection or relief.

Myanmar’s story began in 2021 when the military seized power, jailing elected leaders and sparking a full‑scale civil war. Even now, rebels hold some territories but face heavy drone and conscription pressure.

For young people, this report is a stark reminder that war isn’t just about battles – it’s about people, families, and everyday lives lost.