NUG Human Rights Ministry: Nearly 6,000 Killed in SAC Airstrikes Since Coup — 740 Children Among Dead; Press Freedom Day Marks 47 Journalists Still Detained

Myanmar's National Unity Government Ministry of Human Rights stated on May 3, 2026 (World Press Freedom Day) that nearly 6,000 people — including 740 children — have been killed in aerial attacks by the military junta since the February 2021 coup. The announcement updates the NUG's running tally of airstrike-specific deaths, which is compiled separately from AAPP's broader confirmed-killing figures (7,941+ as of March 2026) and ACLED's total conflict death estimates (96,000+). The NUG figure reflects the surge in air operations in 2025-2026: ACLED documented 2,602 SAC air attacks in 2025 alone — the highest annual total since the coup — killing 1,971 civilians that year. The NUG's 6,000 total suggests continued acceleration in 2026. On the same World Press Freedom Day, Mizzima and MoeMaKa reported that 47 journalists remain in SAC detention in Myanmar, out of more than 220 arrested since the 2021 coup. The British government called for the immediate release of all detained journalists. Since the 2021 coup, the SAC has also permanently revoked the operating licenses of dozens of independent news organizations, with 3 more revoked on April 30, 2026 alongside the martial law proclamation.