“Mae Sot, Thailand – Once again, the attack came from the sky. In late April, the Kachin resistance fighters in northern Kachin State barely heard the sound of the propellers as the Myanmar military’s two drones released their payload above their heads. Aung Nge, a fighter with the Kachin People’s Defense Force (PDF), recounted the moment he fell to the ground when the bombs dropped, remaining conscious throughout the attack. The drone strike seriously injured three men, who were quickly sent to a hidden hospital deep in the jungle for treatment by field medics. However, one of the soldiers started to show mysterious symptoms and deteriorated rapidly, while another fighter from the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) also succumbed to his injuries. Aung Nge faced ghastly infections that spread rapidly throughout his body, with doctors unable to explain the rapid deterioration.
Doctors discovered that the wounds were rapidly necrotising, leading to the need for amputation. Under international law, the use of chemical weapons is banned, yet Myanmar has been accused of using such weapons in the past. Recent reports from various resistance groups have alleged the use of banned and restricted weapons, including chemical and incendiary weapons, causing harm to civilians and fighters alike. The claims are being investigated by the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) and the National Unity Government (NUG), with calls for the international community to take action against the military. As the conflict escalates, with reports of air strikes and bombings causing illness and injury among civilians and fighters, the situation in Myanmar remains dire.”