Arakan Responders for Emergency (ARE) have reported that over 130,000 individuals have been displaced from the townships of Pauktaw, Minbya, Mrauk-U, Ponnagyun, Rathedaung, and Buthidaung in Rakhine State as a result of the ongoing conflicts.
In Rakhine State, fighting between AA and the Military Council has reignited since November 13th. The warzone has been gradually expanding over the past month during the expansion of Operation 1027 which started in Shan State and has successfully spread nationwide.
ARE is an organization dedicated to monitoring the plight of displaced individuals in Rakhine State while actively engaging in relief and assistance efforts.
Apart from the fighting itself, a significant number of civilians fled as a result of the Military Council's indiscriminate shootings, airstrikes, arson attacks, and arbitrary arrests.
"The soldiers came to our village, set our houses on fire, and shot randomly. It's not safe to stay there, so we had to run for our lives”, a resident of Yeyoepyin village in Ponnagyun Township told DMG.
On December 13th, following a clash with the Arakan Army (AA) near Sahnyinwa village in Myebon Township, the Military Council indiscriminately fired artillery at nearby villages. Moreover, thousands of residents have evacuated due to threats from the regime troops that entered the villages.
"The soldiers warned us they would shell our villages, if we didn't report any sightings of AA troops. Soon after artillery shells exploded nearby, and it became too dangerous to stay. That's why we had to run for safety”, a displaced individual from Lithon village in Myebon also reported.
On December 12th, the 540th Light Infantry Battalion and the 377th Battalion of the Military Council, stationed in Mrauk-U Township, launched artillery fire, forcing the residents of Pangmaw, Shaukpongyun, Pureinkone, Kyauktwinkone, and Poephyugyun villages to evacuate.
"The artillery from Mrauk-U was firing all day, and shells were landing near our village. We had to leave fast because it wasn't safe to stay there anymore”, a woman from Shaukpongyun village said.
With the growing number of displaced individuals, there is a rising need for essential resources such as food, medicine, and shelter to meet their requirements for sustenance, healthcare, and accommodation.
Yet, in Rakhine State, the Military Council has barricaded routes, imposed movement restrictions, and barred NGOs and INGOs from providing essential humanitarian assistance to the displaced individuals in need. Consequently, war-displaced people are now grappling with acute shortages of food.
"We had to run away from wars in the past, and now we're going through the same difficult situation again. Finding a safe place to stay is hard; there's almost no shelter left. Right now, we're staying in a field near the hills, but it's tough without proper roofs, especially in this winter. We're also running low on rice”, said Daw Khin Mya Yee, who fled from Ratheduang Township.
