One dies, one injured in AA’s attack on UN vehicle

One dies, one injured in AA’s attack on UN vehicle
The place where the attack took place.
The place where the attack took place.
Published 22 April 2020

 

Yangon—A personnel (driver) of the World Health Organization died and a civilian health staff was injured in an attack on a vehicle with UN logo, by the ULA/AA in Rakhine State on the evening of 20 April, according to the Information Ministry’s statement.

The ULA/AA attacked a WHO-owned vehicle transporting the samples of persons under investigation for COVID-19 in Rakhine State, to Yangon.

Due to the suspension of flight schedule in Sittwe, driver U Pyae Sone Win Maung, accompanied by U Aung Myo Oo, medical health supervisor (2), left Sittwe for Yangon by car to transport the samples to the National Health Laboratory in Yangon.

The attack took place near Yarmaung jetty in Minbya Township at around 5 pm on 20 April. They were transported to Minbya People’s Hospital as both were injured.

There is widespread criticism that such attack is just an inhumane and terror act when the world countries are grappling with the prevention, control and treatment of COVID-19, according to the Information Ministry’s statement.

Brig-Gen Zaw Min Tun, Secretary of Tatmadaw True News Information Team said: “The AA carries out such frequent attacks as Yarmaung Bridge is a strategic place.  Civilian cars and cargo trucks are plying on Yarmaung Bridge. I think they attacked the UN-owned vehicle intentionally. The Tatmadaw has no reason to carry out such attack. There is no any military troops near the place where the attack took place. The Tamadaw takes security measures on Yarmaung Bridge. The attack is from the hill.”

The United Nations is deeply saddened to confirm that U Pyae Sone Win Maung, a personnel (driver) of the World Health Organization, has died after being wounded in a security incident in Minbya Township in Rakhine State on the evening of Monday 20th April 2020. The WHO colleague was driving a marked UN vehicle from Sittwe to Yangon transporting COVID19 surveillance samples in support of the Ministry of Health and Sports. The United Nations is seeking further information on the circumstances of the incident. We extend our deepest condolences to the family of our colleague, according to the statement by the UN office in Myanmar.

The UN flag was flown at half-mast at the UN office in Yangon.

The AA carried out remote mine attacks on six vehicles loaded with the ICRC’s aid for Maungdaw in Rakhine State, in Kyauktaw Township on 27 June, 2019