Despite being told that it is safe to return home by the Arakan Army (AA), displaced people from Maungdaw Town in Arakan (Rakhine) State sheltering in Maungdaw Township are hesitant to return.

On 1 January 2025, the AA announced that it had completed its clearance of Maungdaw Town and that it was safe for residents to return. However, residents remain reluctant to do so due to ongoing airstrikes by the junta targeting towns and villages across Arakan State.

A displaced resident of Maungdaw Town still sheltering in Maungdaw Township said to DMG: “The ULA [the United League of Arakan, the political wing of the AA] has carefully verified the household and population records before allowing the town residents to return. Some have already returned to Maungdaw Town, while others are still monitoring the situation. The main reason for our hesitation is concern over the junta’s frequent airstrikes targeting civilians. Once safety is ensured, we will all return home.”

Following intense fighting between the junta and the AA in Maungdaw Town in August 2024 the AA evacuated tens of thousands of the town’s residents, most of whom are ethnic Rohingya. The AA then set up temporary camps for the displaced to shelter in.

A person still displaced from Maungdaw Town's No. 3 Ward said that landmines and unexploded ordnance in both Maungdaw Town and Maungdaw Township remain a concern.

He said: “We also want to return to our homes, but we are still concerned about the risk of airstrikes. Additionally, the ward we live in is very close to the former base of the junta’s Border Guard Police Battalion 5 (BGP 5), so there may be many landmines and unexploded ordnance left in the area. That's why we haven't returned yet and are still monitoring the situation.”

The AA is currently prioritising demining and restoring access to drinking water in Maungdaw Town, according to sources close to the ULA.