UNICEF Condemns Deadly Attack on School in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, Warns of Escalating Crisis for Children. 

YANGON:

UNICEF has issued a strong condemnation following reports of a deadly overnight attack on a boarding school in Kyauktaw Township, located in Myanmar’s conflict-ridden Rakhine State. The attack, which occurred while children were sleeping, has reportedly resulted in the deaths and injuries of multiple students.

While full details of the incident are still emerging, UNICEF says the strike marks a deeply alarming escalation in violence that continues to devastate children and families in the region. The boarding school — a place that should have served as a safe haven — became a site of unimaginable horror.

“Children are losing their lives in the very spaces meant to protect them — their homes, schools, and neighborhoods,” UNICEF stated. “Relentless attacks are sowing terror, uprooting families, and deepening their suffering.”

Children Caught in the Crossfire of Escalating Conflict

The attack is part of a growing pattern of violence that has engulfed Rakhine State in recent months, as fighting intensifies between armed groups and the Myanmar military. Civilians — especially children — are increasingly caught in the crossfire, with schools, hospitals, and homes coming under direct threat.

UNICEF’s latest warning comes amid rising casualties, widespread displacement, and the near-collapse of essential public services, including education and healthcare. Many families are facing acute food shortages, limited access to medical care, and restricted humanitarian aid.

“On top of the escalating violence and displacement, families across Rakhine are also facing acute hardship, dwindling food supplies, and the collapse of vital lifelines such as education and healthcare,” UNICEF said.

Call for Immediate Protection of Children and Civilians

UNICEF is calling on all parties to the conflict to urgently adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law, which requires the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure — especially schools and healthcare facilities.

The agency emphasized:

• Violence against children must stop.
• Schools, dormitories, homes, and hospitals must never be targets.
• Children must be protected at all times.
• Lifesaving humanitarian assistance must be allowed to reach affected communities.

UNICEF reiterated that children have a right to grow up in safety, attend school without fear, and access healthcare and nutrition. These rights are being stripped away in real time in Rakhine, as violence intensifies and humanitarian access shrinks.

“Parties to the conflict must uphold their obligations under international law to protect civilians, including children, and allow lifesaving humanitarian assistance to reach those in urgent need,” the agency stated.

Worsening Humanitarian Crisis in Rakhine

Rakhine State, already one of Myanmar’s most vulnerable regions, has been at the center of recurring violence and displacement for years. The current wave of attacks further exacerbates an already dire humanitarian crisis, pushing thousands of children into even deeper insecurity and trauma.

In recent months, humanitarian organizations have reported:

• Severe restrictions on aid deliveries.
• The closure of schools and clinics due to security concerns.
• Forced displacement of families with little or no access to shelter, food, or clean water.
• A sharp increase in civilian casualties, including children.

A Plea for Urgent Action

UNICEF’s condemnation of the Kyauktaw school attack is a broader plea to the international community and local actors to act decisively to protect children, end impunity for attacks on civilian infrastructure, and support immediate humanitarian response efforts.

As violence spirals across Rakhine State, UNICEF and its partners continue to call for:

• Unimpeded humanitarian access to all affected populations.
• Protection of schools and health facilities in accordance with the Safe Schools Declaration and international humanitarian law.
• Immediate cessation of violence, especially attacks that target or endanger children. “Children in Rakhine are not just collateral damage — they are bearing the brunt of a crisis they did nothing to create,” UNICEF concluded. “Their suffering must not be ignored, and their protection must be non-negotiable.

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