Violence in Myanmar destroys entire Christian village

It’s been more than three years since a military coup in Myanmar put a military council in charge of the country. It’s led to massive violence across the country as the military and rebel groups battle for control—and often, Christians are caught in the middle, and sometimes even directly targeted by military forces.

Since the coup, Christians have encountered greater violence and tighter restrictions. Believers have been killed and churches have been indiscriminately attacked, even well-established ones in predominantly Christian states like Chin and Kayah. More Christians than ever have been driven out of their homes and have found refuge in churches or camps for internally displaced people. Some are even forced to flee to the jungle where they are often deprived of access to food and health care.

Christians are part of the generally peaceful resistance movement, but fighting has increased across the country, and although not all ethnic minority armed groups are involved, some Christian ones are. Government forces have continued to disproportionally attack Christian villages and churches and also killed Christian aid workers and pastors, often in aerial attacks. This has created a dangerous situation for believers and is a key reason that the country has leapt to No. 17 on the 2024 World Watch List.

The situation for civilians has gotten even worse in 2024. The United Nations reports that more than 3 million people in Myanmar have been displaced by the conflict—and the number has surged by more than 50 percent in only the last six months.

One of the places that has been the setting of significant warfare is the Sagaing Region, home to some of the more established rebel groups and armed resistance fighters. It’s also home to a sizable Christian minority. In 2023, 100 civilians in the region were killed by an airstrike, and in early 2024, another village was bombed and 17 civilians were killed, including nine children.

A more recent attack by the ruling military council targeted a Christian village—more than 400 houses were burned down, including five churches. Locals told Open Doors partners that, in mid-April, the military marched into the village and started burning down the houses and churches. It’s believed the goal of the attack was to discourage rebel fighters and to spread fear.

“Houses that could not be burned down were also destroyed by industrial equipment,” says a villager who witnessed the destruction. “A school was destroyed by their heavy weapons and drone bombs. They broke into the houses. After that, they took off with a getaway vehicle.”

Ko Thein* a local Open Doors partner shares: “The village contains around 500 houses, and they all [belong to] Christians. Since their houses and churches are burned, the people are now displaced to the nearby areas and taking shelter in all possible areas.”

Because of the incident in the village, nine nearby villages have been evacuated.

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Please lift up this situation in Myanmar. Pray that God would bring an end to the violence, protect His people and bring an openness in the country so that all people can worship and live freely.

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Violence in Myanmar destroys entire Christian village

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