SAVE the Children confirmed today that two of its staff were among 35 people butchered in eastern Myanmar on Christmas Eve in an attack by the army.

It said the two staff members were caught up in the attack in Kayah state as they were traveling back to their office after conducting humanitarian activities in a nearby community.

“Violence against civilians, including aid workers, is intolerable and this senseless attack is a breach of international humanitarian law,” chief executive Inger Ashing said.

“This is not an isolated event. The people of Myanmar continue to be targeted with increasing violence.”

Photos of the attack show the charred bodies of over 30 people in three burnt-out vehicles. They were reportedly shot by government troops and included women and children.

A villager who said he went to the scene said that the victims had fled the fighting between armed resistance groups and the Burmese army near Koi Ngan village on Friday.

He said they were killed after they were arrested by troops while heading to refugee camps in the western part of the township.