Children across Arakan (Rakhine) State are enduring profound psychological and physical trauma as fighting intensifies and the coup junta continues its airstrikes, according to civil society organizations (CSOs) working to support young people in the conflict zone.
Widespread displacement, the loss of homes and loved ones, and repeated exposure to air raids have left many children living in constant fear. Aid workers said urgent psychological assistance is needed to prevent long-term harm.
“We asked the children to draw pictures to show how they feel. Almost every single one drew airplanes. Some even turned the planes into sharks in their drawings as if they see them as man-eaters,” said Ko Pyae Phyo, who leads the Ponnagyun-based Lin Yaung Chi Foundation.
The coup regime has repeatedly struck civilian targets across Arakan State, including hospitals, clinics, schools, monasteries and residential neighborhoods. These attacks have intensified insecurity and deepened both the physical and emotional suffering of local communities.
In many areas, the sound of aircraft, even from a distance, triggers panic. Students routinely abandon their lessons and scramble for bomb shelters at the first sign of planes overhead.
“Whenever we hear a plane, everyone panics. Some of us run to the bomb pits, others rush back home. Our teachers tell us to lie flat and stay calm, but we get so scared that we just run in every direction,” said 12-year-old Ma Thuzar Hlaing, who lives in an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Ponnagyun Township.
She added that fear has completely changed how children view the sky above them. “We’re always worrying about where the bombs might fall. Before, we used to wave at planes when they flew by. Now we don’t even dare to look up. As soon as we hear one, we jump straight into the bomb pits,” she said.
Ongoing airstrikes and repeated displacement have forced schools to shut down frequently, severely disrupting education. Even when classes resume, many students struggle to concentrate, burdened by stress and anxiety.
CSO members said the constant threat of air raids has transformed schools into places overshadowed by fear.
“Whenever the children hear a plane, they just freeze. It’s so hard to calm them down. Schools keep shutting down, and many parents are simply too afraid to let their kids attend. Even during lessons, we can’t focus fully, we’re always listening for the sound of aircraft. The moment a plane passes overhead, the children panic and run in all directions. It’s truly heartbreaking to see,” said Ma Lat Lat, a teacher from Arakan State.
In response, one CSO has launched mobile library programs aimed at giving children a temporary escape and helping them rebuild a sense of normalcy. These initiatives provide books and activities designed to ease stress and support emotional recovery.
Similar mobile library programs were implemented in previous years in IDP camps and villages, offering both educational assistance and psychological relief.
Between November 13, 2023, and November 13, 2025, junta airstrikes, artillery shelling and ground offensives killed 1,152 civilians and injured 2,153 others in Arakan State, according to a statement released by the Arakan Army (AA).
