The attacks of the Myanmar army, which had previously carried out major massacres against Muslims in Arakan, continue. At least 20 people lost their lives in recent attacks by helicopters.

Those who lost their lives in a helicopter attack near the waterfall was said collecting bamboos.

A spokesman for the Muslim Arakan Army denied the allegations that the dead and wounded were members of an armed group and said the Myanmar army bombed the entire region without discrimination.

Images that ILKHA received from local sources confirm dead and wounded.

UN urges for humanitarian aid

In other news, the United Nations warned that the Myanmar army's attacks on civilians could be considered war crimes.

Civilians were killed, houses burned, arbitrary arrests and abductions, fire opened without discrimination in civilian areas, and damaged cultural assets have been reported from reliable sources said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani.

On April 3, two army helicopters opened fire on the town of Bhuthaung, rice fields and civilians grazing cows, the UN spokesperson said. At least 7 civilians were killed and 18 civilians were injured in the attack, but death toll and wounded are estimated to be more.

"We are now receiving reports that the number may be much higher than that. We have unconfirmed reports that the number may be as high as 30," she said.

Shamdasani said Myanmar's military has blamed the attack on "terrorists who were supporting the Arakan army." However, she said the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights rejects that accusation.

Shamdasani said that 20,000 civilians were displaced due to attacks in five areas of Arakan and urged authorities to allow humanitarian aid to be delivered to the region.

Myanmar's western Rakhine state has drawn international attention in recent years following the attacks by Myanmar's army against Arakanese Muslims which forced more than 700,000 refugees across the border into Bangladesh.

The United Nations has accused Myanmar's army of acting with "genocidal intent."

ILKHA