The United League of Arakan's Humanitarian and Development Coordination Office (HDCO) disclosed distressing statistics on January 18th, indicating that the Rakhine conflict since November 13th, has led to the deaths of 81 Rakhine civilians and the injury of 260, primarily due to airstrikes and artillery barrages unleashed the Military Council.
Analyzing these grim statistics, HDCO detailed 28 fatalities and 103 injuries in November 2023, 27 fatalities and 66 injuries in December, and 26 fatalities and 91 injuries in January 2024. Notably, artillery shell incidents were the predominant cause, resulting in 50 deaths and 171 injuries.
Small arms fire from Junta forces claimed the lives of 18 civilians and left 19 others injured, ranking as the second-highest cause of fatalities. Airstrikes contributed to 2 deaths and 29 injuries, drone attacks resulted in 7 deaths and 24 injuries, while landmine explosions caused 1 fatality and 10 injuries.
The report also underscored casualties stemming from gunfire from war-ships, war remnants, and other shootouts. Mrauk-U Township documented the highest death toll at 25, with 40 individuals injured, while Minbya Township closely followed with 14 dead and 61 injured. Pauktaw, Kyauktaw, and Buthidaung townships also reported substantial casualties.
The Junta's approach centres on targeting civilian areas instead of direct engagement
with the Arakan Army (AA). The Regime's Army, Navy, and Air Force have collaboratively conducted assaults on residential areas and villages, specifically in Mrauk-U, Minbya, Ponnagyun, Pauktaw, and Ramree townships. These indiscriminate attacks have led to widespread casualties and compelled residents to evacuate, highlighting a disturbing trend in the conflict.
HDCO also revealed that 277 innocent Rakhine civilians have been detained by the coup Regime since the initiation of the Rakhine conflict, up to the second week of January this year.
According to HDCO, during the period from November 13th to November 30th, Junta detained 81 civilians from various townships in Rakhine State. Moreover between December 1st and December 31st, 172 civilians were arrested, and an additional 24 were detained from January 1st to 13th of this year.
Throughout the Rakhine conflict, the Junta has utilized overnight guest registration checks as a guise to detain civilians, and pedestrians have also been subjected to arrests. In regions impacted by the conflict, coup Military Council forces have infiltrated residential areas, detained civilians and held them to be deployed as human shields.
Among those detained are women, underage children, the elderly, and university students. Family members, speaking to Narinjara, convey their apprehension and uncertainty regarding the whereabouts of their loved ones arrested by the Junta forces.
