Almost 6,000 people displaced by junta artillery strikes in Ann Twsp

By Admin 02 Dec 2023

DMG Newsroom
2 December 2023, Sittwe

Some 6,000 residents from around 15 villages in Kazukaing and Darletchaung village-tracts in Arakan State’s Ann Township have evacuated due to daily junta artillery strikes.

The junta’s Light Infantry Battalion Nos. 371, 372, 373, stationed on Mt. Taw Hein in Kazukaing village-tract, have been firing artillery shells daily, forcing 900 residents from five villages in Kazukaing village-tract and around 5,000 residents from 10 villages in Darletchaung village-tract to flee their homes.

“We have been forced to flee our homes as those battalions pounded our villages. We have now arrived in remote locations, and we have difficulties finding food,” said a resident of Ywarma Village in Darlet village-tract.

A resident of Thet Kan Htaung Village in Kazukaing village-tract was killed by a junta artillery strike on November 14. Six villagers from Alel Chaung village in Darletchaung village-tract were wounded the same day. A 40-year-old woman from Ywar Haung village in Darletchaung village-tract was injured by a junta artillery strike on Friday.

Local residents in Ann Township are concerned for their safety as the regime has been carrying out artillery strikes though there is still no fighting in the township.

“They are shelling every day though there is no fighting. There are unexploded pieces of ordnance near our village,” said a woman from Alel Kyun Village.

Darletchaung village-tract residents mainly engage in farming for their livelihoods, and the region lags behind in various aspects including healthcare and education due to its remote location. Ethnic Arakanese people make up around 30 percent of the population, and ethnic Chin people make up the rest in Darletchaung village-tract.

Tens of thousands of people have been displaced since renewed fighting between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army broke out on November 13.