September 6, 2024
On the night of September 5, a junta airstrike on La Ei refugee camp in Pekhon Township, Southern Shan State, resulted in the deaths of at least 10 people, including schoolchildren and a teacher, according to a report by the PKPF News and Information Bureau. The airstrike targeted the Ban Kok refugee camp, killing six children and two women. Many others were injured.
Two bombs were dropped by junta forces, with one hitting the edge of the camp and the other striking a shelter directly, where refugees were residing. Among the casualties were children who were still attending school at the time of the attack.
The La Ei refugee camp, home to 167 shelters housing 666 individuals, also serves as a makeshift school for nearly 700 students. This marks the seventh airstrike on the camp, though previous attacks had not resulted in such significant casualties. The PKPF report noted that this recent attack was the deadliest yet, with a high number of injuries in addition to the fatalities.