The junta and its allies burnt down 21,012 homes in Myanmar, from 1 January to 31 July 2024, according to a 10 September report by Data for Myanmar.
According to the report by Data for Myanmar, an independent research organisation, the 21,012 homes were burnt down in 362 incidents of junta arson from January to July 2024. It also notes that during April and May 2024 over a thousand homes were destroyed in Buthidaung Township, Rakhine State during intense fighting.
During July 2024, the junta also burnt down 1,178 homes across the regions of Sagaing, Mandalay, Magway, West Bago and Tanintharyi and Karenni, Arakan (Rakhine) and southern Shan states.
The report also pointed out that in areas where the armed resistance is strong the junta and its allies have been actively burning down homes.
A Data for Myanmar representative said: “The junta forces continue to conduct arson attacks on towns and villages involved in the conflict, as well as on rural areas supporting the revolutionary forces.”
The destruction of homes significantly affects the security, economic stability, and social well-being of affected communities. Residents flee an area after their homes are destroyed and many cannot return because they have nowhere to return to.
Junta airstrikes and heavy artillery attacks have destroyed hundreds of homes in Pauktaw Town in Arakan State. Due to ongoing security concerns, residents remain unable to return and continue to live elsewhere as IDPs.
A representative of an Arakan State based civil society organisation (CSO) said: "Residents remain unable to return because their homes have been destroyed by fire due to the fighting. They are also facing significant difficulties with their basic needs for food and shelter. The support from local organisations is inadequate and cannot fully meet their needs. Therefore, there is an urgent need for increased assistance from international organisations.”
According to Data for Myanmar, over 101,460 homes have been destroyed by junta arson attacks since the February 2021 coup.
Currently, junta heavy artillery and airstrikes continue to to target civilian areas including villages, towns, homes, and buildings. This ongoing violence means that civilian casualties and the numbers of destroyed homes continue to rise every day.
