A devastating explosion in a rebel-controlled village in eastern Myanmar has killed at least 30 people, local sources reported on Tuesday, marking the latest tragedy in a conflict that has displaced millions and pushed the country's economy to the brink. The blast, which occurred in Kayah State, struck a crowded market in a village held by the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF). Witnesses described scenes of chaos, with bodies scattered among the wreckage of stalls and homes.
The cause of the explosion remains unclear, but both the junta and rebel groups have traded accusations. The KNDF blamed an air strike by the Myanmar military, while the junta denied any involvement and suggested a rebel weapons cache had detonated. The United Nations condemned the incident, calling for an independent investigation. “This is a terrible blow to a people already suffering from displacement, hunger, and economic collapse,” said a UN spokesperson in Bangkok.
The blast exacerbates a humanitarian crisis that has deepened since the 2021 coup. Over 2.6 million people are now displaced across Myanmar, according to the UN, with food prices soaring and access to healthcare severely limited. In Kayah State, more than 300,000 people have fled their homes, many living in makeshift camps without adequate shelter or clean water.
For ordinary people, the cost of this war is measured in lives lost and livelihoods destroyed. The blast in the market killed farmers, traders, and mothers buying food for their children. A local relief worker, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals, said: “This is not just a number. These are people who were already surviving on little. Now there is nothing.”
The conflict has also wrecked the regional economy. Trade routes are cut off, agricultural land lies fallow, and inflation has pushed basic goods beyond reach. In rebel areas, the price of rice has doubled in a year. The junta’s economic mismanagement has made matters worse: the kyat has lost half its value, and foreign investment has dried up.
International aid agencies are struggling to respond. Myanmar faces a funding gap of more than $600 million for humanitarian operations this year. The UN has warned that without immediate support, the crisis will worsen, with millions facing acute food insecurity.
The blast in Kayah State is a stark reminder that Myanmar’s civil war shows no signs of abating. As the military and armed resistance groups clash, civilians are caught in the crossfire. The international community must act now to protect the vulnerable and push for a ceasefire. The people of Myanmar deserve more than empty statements; they need concrete help to survive this man-made catastrophe.
For now, the market in that village is silent, except for the sound of survivors sifting through the rubble. They are looking for loved ones, for their belongings, for any sign that life can return to normal. But in a country torn apart by conflict, normal feels a long way off.
