Save the Children, a worldwide NGO, revealed on Tuesday that two of its employees were among the 35 persons killed in a Myanmar military raid, According to Anadolu Agency.
"It is with great sadness that we confirm today that two members of Save the Children's staff were among at least 35 persons killed by the Myanmar military in Kayah State, in the country's east," the NGO stated in a statement.
"Both of the staff members were new fathers who were passionate about children's education.
"One was 32 years old, with a 10-month-old boy, and had spent two years training teachers at Save the Children. The other, a 28-year-old mother of a three-month-old daughter, has been a member of the charity for six years. "For security concerns, they are not being identified," the statement said.
"The military dragged inpiduals from their cars, arrested some, killed several, and burned the bodies," it stated, adding that they were on their way back to their office after working on humanitarian response nearby when they were attacked.
"This news is extremely distressing," the statement added, citing Save the Children's Chief Executive Inger Ashing. Violence against civilians, especially relief workers, is abhorrent, and this indiscriminate attack is a violation of international humanitarian law."
"The brutality against civilians and our personnel, who are dedicated humanitarians serving millions of children in need across Myanmar," Ashing said.
"Member states should implement an arms embargo, with an emphasis on restricting the airstrikes observed in recent days," she added, calling on the UN Security Council to gather "as quickly as possible to set out the steps they will take to hold those guilty accountable."
Save the Children has been working in Myanmar since 1995, with more than 50 partners and 900 personnel, and has now temporarily halted activities in Kayah, Chin, and parts of Magway and Kayin as a result of the tragedy, according to the statement.
"Credible accounts claim at least 35 inpiduals, including at least one child, were pushed from their vehicles, slain, and burned," UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths said on Sunday.
"I strongly condemn this heinous act, as well as all attacks against people in the country, which are illegal under international humanitarian law."
On Feb. 1, the Myanmar military, known locally as the Tatmadaw, launched a military coup and imprisoned the leadership of the National League for Democracy (NLD), led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who was sentenced to four years in prison earlier this month.
Over 1,000 inpiduals have been slain by junta troops, while over 5,400 others have been detained, many of whom have since been released.
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