AA advises international NGOs in three Arakan townships to evacuate

By Admin 20 May 2024

DMG Newsroom
20 May 2024, Sittwe

The Arakkha Army (AA) issued a statement on May 20 to international organisations based in Arakan State’s Buthidaung, Maungdaw and Thandwe townships, where fighting with Myanmar’s military regime is escalating, advising them to evacuate in advance of potentially volatile days ahead.

The statement added that if international organisations are trapped in the war zone, they can ask for help from the United League of Arakan/Arakkha Army (ULA/AA) at any time.

“If something happens to the employees of an international organisation in the middle of the fight, it will not be good for the AA,” said an official from a civil society organisation in Arakan State. “Even now, the AA is being criticised internationally for misinformation. So, I see that the AA is handling everything cautiously at the moment,”

The AA statement continued that the ethnic armed group had notified the residents of Sittwe, Kyaukphyu, Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships to evacuate before the fighting, has evacuated them to areas free of war, and is still helping people.

Since renewed conflict began in Arakan State on November 13, the regime has arrested some people working for international organisations based in Sittwe, as well as officials from local civil society organisations.

Staff from some international organisations and civil society groups have taken refuge in the so-called liberated areas of Arakan State, controlled by the AA, while others have left the state entirely and resettled in cities including Yangon and Mandalay.

Having lost almost all the towns and significant territory in northern Arakan State, the regime is reportedly pressuring international organisations that have left Sittwe to resume operations.

“Although there are still some international organisations in Sittwe, many organisations have left. It is known that the regime is pressuring international organisations that have left Sittwe to resume operations. As for the employees in Sittwe, there are also some who leave their jobs because there is no security guarantee,” said an employee working at an international organisation.

More than 1,500 houses as well as an office and pharmacy of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) were destroyed in arson attacks in Buthidaung Town last month. Food in a warehouse owned by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Buthidaung Town was also vandalised and household appliances were stolen from unoccupied homes.

The AA says the regime launched an airstrike on Buthidaung Town on May 17 that destroyed public houses and buildings.

Since renewed fighting kicked off in November, the AA has so far seized effective control of nine townships in Arakan State as well as Paletwa Township in neighbouring Chin State. Fierce clashes between the military and AA are reportedly ongoing in Ann, Maungdaw and Thandwe townships.