Regime kills over 700 civilians in Arakan, Paletwa in one year: AA

By Admin 18 Nov 2024

DMG Newsroom
18 November 2024, Mrauk-U

A total of 713 civilians were killed by junta attacks over the past year in Arakan State and Paletwa Township in neighbouring Chin State, according to a report by the Humanitarian and Development Coordination Office (HDCO) of the United League of Arakan/Arakkha Army (ULA/AA).

During 12 months of fighting from November 13, 2023, to November 13 of this year, 517 men and boys and 218 women and girls died at the hands of the regime or allied Muslim armed groups including the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), Rohingya Solidarity Organization and Arakan Rohingya Army. According to the HDCO, 22 civilians were killed and five were injured by those groups over the past year.

Among those killed were 132 children under the age of 18, while 407 others were injured, said the HDCO report.

Sittwe Township recorded the highest number of deaths with 108, followed by Buthidaung with 104 and Paletwa with 31.

Civilian casualties were inflicted by junta airstrikes, artillery bombardments, ground assaults, unexploded ordnance, and landmines. Airstrikes were the major cause of civilian fatalities. 

One woman from Pauktaw said of her experience: “I didn’t hear the plane until it dropped bombs. The bombs hit near us, and I thought we would be dead. They have been targeting residential areas, and we don’t feel safe even at home.”

According to the HDCO, 1,563 civilians were injured due to airstrikes, artillery shelling, unexploded ordnance and landmines blamed on the military junta during the same period.

Among the injured, Maungdaw had the highest number with 384, followed by Minbya with 197, and Paletwa with 48.

One Maungdaw resident said: “The junta drops bombs anytime, anywhere, making it unsafe to stay in the village. We dare not go near the forests and hills because we fear Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) attacks. We feel safe nowhere.”

Civilian casualties continue to rise in Arakan State as the regime conducts air and artillery attacks on AA-controlled areas and non-conflict zones with regularity.