At least 10 child Buddhist nuns were injured when their vehicle overturned on the Ywangan–Mandalay Road near Sakhangyi Village in Ywangan Township on February 24. Five of the injured are reported to be in critical condition.

The novices were traveling from Taunggyi, Hsihseng, and Hopong townships to continue their religious studies at a monastery in Sagaing. The route is known for its steep inclines and sharp curves. According to a local man who assisted at the scene, the vehicle’s brakes reportedly failed before it overturned.

A woman who witnessed the crash while traveling described chaotic and distressing conditions.

“I was heading to Mandalay yesterday when I saw many child nuns after the crash. There was no phone signal at all. One of the nuns had lost a leg. Many are just 12 years old; they had written their parents’ phone numbers on pieces of paper to carry with them. They asked me to call, but with no signal, I couldn’t get through. I ended up taking them to Ywangan Hospital myself.”

By 9:30 p.m., the five critically injured nuns were transferred to Mandalay General Hospital for emergency treatment.

Beyond the immediate trauma, the incident has highlighted the vulnerability of children from conflict-affected communities. A woman familiar with the situation said many of the young novices had recently been ordained and sent to Sagaing for education because their families had been displaced by ongoing conflict and were struggling to survive.

“When we tried to ask about their parents, they couldn’t understand Burmese. They were crying and shouting, ‘I want to go home’—that was the only phrase they seemed to know. These children are so small; it’s heartbreaking. They were sent to a monastery in Sagaing after being ordained, likely because their families were displaced and facing severe hardship,” she said.

Language barriers have further complicated emergency response efforts. Many of the injured children speak only Shan, Pa-O, or Ta’ang, making communication with medical personnel difficult. Community members are urgently calling for volunteers fluent in Shan, Pa-O, Ta’ang, or Danu to assist with interpretation and coordination.

The crash has also renewed concerns about the broader context in which children are sent away for religious education. A local man from Hsihseng noted that during summer holidays it is common for monks from major cities such as Yangon, Mandalay, and Sagaing to recruit children from Shan State for study. However, he cautioned parents to exercise extreme care amid ongoing instability.

“Given the current instability, there is a high risk of children falling into the hands of human traffickers. Parents should not carelessly hand over their children to just anyone,” he said.

Residents say the stretch of road near Sakhangyi Village is notorious for accidents due to its hazardous terrain. Yet for many families uprooted by conflict, sending children to monasteries in other regions is seen as one of the few available options for education and survival.

As the injured novices remain hospitalized, the tragedy underscores not only the dangers of Myanmar’s rural roads, but also the profound consequences of displacement—where children separated from stable homes and support networks face heightened risks even in their pursuit of safety and learning.