The attack on Kyauk Ni Maw village in Ramree Island town left more than 40 people dead and about 500 houses destroyed.

Myanmar’s military launched airstrikes this week in western Rakhine state, killing dozens of people, the United Nations said, as the country remains mired in violence four years after a coup.

The United Nations said in a statement late Friday that junta forces attacked the Kyauk Ni Maw village in the Ramree island town, killing more than 40 people and destroying about 500 homes.

Myanmar has in chaos Since the military overthrew the elected government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021, it has triggered large-scale protests and evolved into a widespread armed rebellion on multiple fronts, killing thousands of people.

According to a statement from the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Myanmar, women and children were among those killed in Rakhine State.

“Fighting in Rakhine State has recently escalated, with civilians paying the highest price for the conflict,” the statement said.

“Civilians face extreme risks, severe food insecurity and a near-total collapse of critical public services.”

The UN report corroborates earlier testimony from aid workers and the ethnic armed group Arakan Army (AA) about deadly violence in Rakhine state.

The AA released the names of at least 26 Muslim villagers who it said were killed and 12 others injured in the attack.

Photos of the blast aftermath obtained by AFP showed dazed residents walking past charred and smoking ruins, with corrugated metal strewn on the ground, trees stripped of their leaves and only scraps of building walls remaining.

A spokesman for the junta did not answer calls from Reuters and AFP seeking comment.

The government has repeatedly denied that its military atrocities against civilianssaying it is working hard to combat “terrorists”.

The military has been fighting opposition to its rule on multiple fronts across the country, with some areas now falling under the control of different rebel groups.

In addition to the AA, government forces also fight other groups such as Karen National Union and the Kachin Independence Army, among others.

A United Nations statement on Friday urged all parties to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law.

It also called on all parties to “ensure unimpeded humanitarian access and provide assistance to the most vulnerable groups.”

Meanwhile, the Blood Money Campaign, a coalition of Myanmar activists working to cut off the junta’s revenue, is urging international governments to swiftly sanction entities that provide it with aviation fuel.

“Only when this support stops will the airstrikes truly end,” said Mulan, a spokesperson for the Blood Money Movement.

Last week, the United Nations said more than 3.5 million people were affected Displaced by conflict in Myanmar ——An increase of 1.5 million from last year.