The UN estimates that more than 3 million people have been displaced by the ongoing conflict in Myanmar. CIR’s Myanmar Witness project explores how the country's younger generations are increasingly “caught in the crossfire” by considering the damage wreaked against schools and universities.
A report released today by CIR’s Myanmar Witness project reveals 174 incidents in which schools and universities have been damaged in Myanmar between 1 February 2021 and 30 April 2024. During this period, education facilities were damaged and destroyed by airstrikes, heavy weaponry, ground offensives and fire.
The data indicates a steady increase in reported incidents since the February 2021 military coup, and shows damage to at least 133 schools across Myanmar, with some schools suffering repeated attacks.
In almost half of the incidents, facilities were either completely destroyed or suffered major damage. Photographs shared by social media users and news agencies show schools with caved-in roofs, burned-out structures and littered with debris.
Images of Chaung Ma school, Sagaing, showing major damage after an airstrike in May 2023, geolocated by Myanmar Witness to 22.283743, 94.892570
(source: Mandalay Free Press)
Matt Lawrence, project director of Myanmar Witness, said a generation of school children are “caught in the crossfire of fighting”.
The impact of such destruction on Myanmar’s education sector is reflected in the numbers: according to the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA), school enrollment was 80% lower in June 2022 than two years prior, leaving 7.8 million children out of school at the time of their reporting.
Airstrikes by military
The analysis was based on two datasets; a primary dataset of social media imagery and news reports showing verifiable or reported damage, and a second dataset of drone attack videos on schools released online by the People’s Defence Force (PDF) groups, though Myanmar Witness found no visible damage in 80% of them.
Most attacks were carried out from the air, with airstrikes by the Myanmar military causing the most damage. Drones used by the PDF have a weapons payload only a fraction of attack helicopters and jets used by the military.
After an attack on Kani township, Sagaing region, on 17 May last year, munitions and imagery analysis of jet aircraft in the vicinity indicated that the military was likely responsible for an airstrike which damaged school buildings and reportedly injured two children.
A still image from a video showing a Myanmar Air Force (MAF) Q-5 firing towards Chaung Ma village, Sagaing, on 17 May 2023, geolocated by Myanmar Witness (source redacted due to privacy concerns)
“As the Myanmar military loses ground, we’ve seen airstrikes become an increasing part of their strategy of suppression,” Lawrence added.
“In areas where fighting is most intense, locals have been left wondering not if, but when, the next attack will strike.”
Myanmar Witness documented reports of 64 fatalities and 106 injuries as part of the investigation, though very few deaths have been verified due to challenges in verifying and geolocating user-generated content of the victims.
The team analysed areas surrounding the damaged schools and found that in many cases they may not have been the main target but were damaged as part of an attack on the whole village.
Damage most prevalent where fighting is worst
Schools in Sagaing, often described as the epicentre of the conflict, suffered the most damage to education facilities, with around a third of all incidents taking place in the region.
Geographical distribution of incidents documented in Myanmar Witness’ primary database and drone database.
Schools used as military bases
In November last year, an assault by the Karenni National Defence Forces on Myanmar military units based at Loikaw University, Kayah state, resulted in the evacuation of civilians and the surrender of military personnel. Such incidents indicate how educational facilities are being used as bases by armed groups, potentially compromising their status as protected under international law.
Military personnel surrendering at Loikaw University (source: Mizzima)
The steady increase in damage to schools is consistent with data and analysis from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED), GCPEA and the UN Human Rights Council.
“If education is not protected throughout Myanmar the next generation’s view of the world risks being driven by factionalism and war, rather than hope and reason,” Lawrence added.
The report is the latest in a series of investigations by Myanmar Witness showing damage to civilian infrastructure that is protected under international humanitarian law. Alongside schools and education facilities, the team have reported on the destruction of medical facilities, places of worship and civilian homes.
Read the full report, and explore the team’s other investigations, on the Myanmar Witness site. Get notified when we report on Myanmar. Sign up for email alerts.