Pazi Gyi villagers need emergency aid and PTSD support following massacre
By Network Media Group
April 22, 2023
Pazi Gyi villagers are suffering post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after Burma army airstrikes on their village killed approximately 170 people on 11 April. Humanitarian volunteers report that there are 400 people displaced from Pazi Gyi village who are living in a nearby jungle and need urgent humanitarian relief.
U Min Thit, who is working with the Emergency Response and Rescue Committee, said that people in Pazi Gyi village are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
“These people are hiding in the jungle. They are living under trees. Some of them want to commit suicide because they are in fear and shock after the terrible airstrikes. Some people are afraid when they unfamiliar people, including us volunteers. Many feel that the BA attacked Pazi Gyi village because informants gave wrong information about their village. This is why they do not trust people they do not know,” U Min Thit told NMG.
On April 11, when nearly 800 people were attending the opening ceremony of a People’s Administration Office in Pazi Gyi village, the BA launched airstrikes targeting the ceremony location.
The exact casualties are difficult to confirm, but reasonable estimates are that approximately 170 people were killed in the airstrikes, including many children. The attack on Pazi Gyi village was one of the largest massacres committed by the Feb 2021 coup regime in Myanmar.
After the airstrikes, villagers fled from their village. According to volunteers, these IDP are still hiding in nearby jungles and are afraid to return to their village. Pazi Gyi village was hit by additional junta airstrikes on 20 April.
U Min Thit said that about 400 people remain hiding in jungle. Some of the displaced children are in shock, reacting strongly even when they hear the sound of a driving motorcycle.
“About 400 IDPs are hiding in the jungle. They are afraid to return to live in the village. Their village looks like an abandoned village. These IDPs are facing many difficulties. Children frantically try to hide when they hear the sound of a driving motorcycle because they think it is the sound of a fighter jet. These people are suffering from post- traumatic stress disorder after the airstrikes,” U Min Thit told NMG.
Volunteers said that the IDPs from Pazi Gyi villagers urgently need emergency aid including drinking water, food rations, medicine and shelter materials.
“They mainly need drinking water, food rations, medicine and shelter. According to our data, there are more than 400 IDPs in the area. It’s not a battle zone. There were no clashes in the area before the airstrikes. No military column has patrolled in the area. The airstrike on Pazi Gyi village were an intentional attack on civilians,” U Min Thit told NMG.
U Nay Phone Latt, spokesperson of the National Unity Government (NUG), said that the situation in Pazi Gyi village is a national-level humanitarian crisis. The NUG is planning to give some financial support for humanitarian relief for the Pazi Gyi villagers, especially to support those who are suffering from PTSD and need healthcare.
“There are cases were a person has lost their entire family in the airstrikes, and they want to commit suicide. Villagers are in fear that the BA will launch more airstrikes on their village. Many villagers are experiencing serious mental and physical suffering. We are going to start a counselling program for these people,” U Nay Phone Latt told NMG.
The NUG reported that at least 168 people were killed by the BA’s airstrikes in Pazi Gyi village. The death toll includes 40 children, under 18 years-old. The NUG has published names of the people killed in the attack.
Volunteers said that when they tried to collect the dead bodies to cremate them, the Burma army launched more airstrikes on the village.
Pazi Gyi village is located in Kantbalu Township in Sagaing Region.
