Thousands of locals are trapped in Maungdaw in Rakhine State as the Arakan Army (AA) launches an offensive to fully seize the town.
On June 18, fighting intensified around Padtawpyin village at the entrance to Maungdaw town, with Junta aircraft launching airstrikes in the area around noon.
“ Now my mother and brothers are trapped in town, with the escape routes closed for them. If they head south, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) in Maungnipyin village has already threatened to kill the war evacuees. I am very worried about them”, a local woman who evacuated in time told DMG.
Among those trapped in the town are Rakhine, Rohingya and Hindu, and the AA reports that it is attempting to evacuate them.
With the offensive to capture the town imminent, AA warned residents to evacuate in advance on June 16. However continuous clashes around the town have made any chance of escape highly risky.
"The phone lines are cut in Maungdaw, but after many attempts, I finally reached someone stuck in town. He told me he had to eat mangoes from the tree in the yard mixed with rice because there is no other food”, a war-displaced individual said.
AA has captured nearly all of the Junta's military fortifications in Maungdaw, except for the Moythugyi 5th Border Guard Police (BGP-5) and 4-Mile 2nd Border Guard Police (BGP-2) battalions near the town, which are still holding their positions.
Since launching an offensive against the Junta over the past seven months in Rakhine State, AA has successfully captured 10 towns and numerous military installations. Recently, AA has opened new fronts in Maungdaw, Taungup, Kyaukphyu, Ann, and Thandwe, causing many locals to flee, while others remain trapped in their war-ridden towns.
