Fleeing from intensified artillery shelling by the Military Council, residents of approximately 10 villages in Maungdaw Township, Rakhine State, have sought refuge in safer locations.
"Only a few men stayed in the village; the women and children had already left. Some families dug bomb pits in their houses”, a Jitchaung village woman told DMG.In Jitchaung, over 300 people from 64 households have been evacuated, leaving almost none behind.
A girl suffered injuries from an artillery shell explosion in Thnibawhla village, Maungdaw Township, on November 13th, during the renewed clashes in the region.
Renewed clashes erupted in Rakhine State on November 13th when the Arakan Army (AA) launched attacks on Chainkhalain and Donepike Border Guard Force (BGF) outposts in Rathedaung Township. Subsequently, the Military Council intensified indiscriminate artillery firing in Maungdaw, Rathedaung, Sittwe, Ponnagyun, and Minbya townships, leading residents to flee.
In Watkyein village, home to over 300 residents, over 100 villagers have relocated due to the fear of shelling. "We fled in advance fearing that artillery shells would fall if there were clashes around our village”, a villager said. Beginning on November 13th, residents of Jitchaung, Watkyein, Khontaing, Thittonenarkhwasone, Nanyarkaing, Thamanthar, Mingalarnyunt, and Minkamauyng villages commenced the process of evacuation
AA reported that five Military Council soldiers were killed near Kanpyinthazi village in Maungdaw Township on November 15th, during an attack on regime troops who had rejected AA’s ultimatum to surrender.
Likewise, AA ambushed a Military Council convoy near the 6-Mile checkpoint in Maungdaw Township, leading to a shootout that endured for more than 10 minutes, locals said.
Following that incident, the Military Council indiscriminately launched artillery barrages, prompting residents to seek refuge for their safety.
"Now there is a lull in the fighting, but we can hear the sounds of artillery fire. Fearing that shells will fall into the village, some villagers have fled, a local woman from Maungdaw 4-Mile area reported.
In just two days since the renewal of conflict in Rakhine State, 8 civilians lost their lives, and over 30 were injured as a result of indiscriminate artillery and small arms fire by the Military Council.
