In brief
Amidst fierce airstrikes from the Burmese military, civilians in Myanmar, especially from the Chin State, face grave dangers as they flee their homes. The military's brutal campaign precedes elections scheduled for December 28, 2025, which are criticized as a sham by displaced civilians and opposition forces. Many locals, fearing both military repression and forced participation in the elections, seek refuge across the border in India. The humanitarian crisis deepens as attacks on schools and hospitals raise urgent concerns over the safety of civilians in the region.
Late one night last month Iang Za Kim heard explosions in a neighbouring village, then fighter jets flying overhead. She ran out of her home to see smoke rising from a distance.We were terrified. We thought the junta's planes would bomb us too. So we grabbed what we could – some food and clothes and ran into the jungles surrounding our village.Iang's face quivers as she recounts the story of what happened on 26 November in K-Haimual, her village in Myanmar's western Chin State, and then she breaks down.She's among thousands of civilians who've fled their homes in recent weeks after the Burmese military launched a fierce campaign of air strikes, and a ground offensive in rebel-held areas across the country, to recapture territory ahead of elections starting on 28 December.Many of the displaced, including Iang, are now seeking refuge in neighboring India, fearing forced participation in the elections, which many believe will be rigged. Reports indicate that the military has ramped up attacks on civilian targets including schools and hospitals, raising alarms about escalating violence against innocent lives.As they navigate treacherous terrain for safety, the voices of those like Ral Uk Thang and Bawi Nei Lian reveal the desperation and heartbreak of a people caught in the crossfire of a regime determined to suppress dissent. Their accounts shed light on the tragic reality of life in Myanmar as an election merely serves to perpetuate an oppressive military rule.
