Myanmar Witness

Since the 2021 coup, CIR’s Myanmar Witness project has been collecting and analysing data which shows cases of extreme violence and destruction throughout the country. According to Myanmar Witness’ findings, Myanmar’s central-northwestern Sagaing region is most heavily affected by the internal conflict, repeatedly showing the highest levels of violence in the entire country. This makes Sagaing the so-called “epicentre” of Myanmar’s conflict and a region facing an urgent humanitarian crisis. We explain:

On 1 February 2021, the military launched a coup d'état in Myanmar. Within hours, General Min Aung Hlaing seized power and arrested elected leaders, overthrowing Aung San Suu Kyi’s democratically elected government.

The village of Kinma (Pauk township, Magway region) was heavily damaged by fires following clashes between SAC forces and local fighters. Photos circulated on social media have been geolocated by Myanmar Witness to the village, and correspond with the location of the heat signature of the fire picked up by NASA. There are reports of 2, and potentially 4 casualties.