Displaced Arakanese struggle to rebuild homes leveled by junta airstrikes

By Admin 17 Feb 2026

DMG Newsroom

17 February 2026, Kyauktaw

Ongoing junta airstrikes targeting civilian areas in Arakan State have resulted in significant casualties and the widespread destruction of homes and vital infrastructure.

Displaced residents whose properties were destroyed told DMG they are facing severe hardships, as a skyrocketing cost of living and a total lack of resources make rebuilding nearly impossible.

“My house was completely destroyed beyond repair. When I think about starting my life from scratch, my mind just goes blank,” said a woman in Kyauktaw whose home was leveled in a recent bombing. “Everything I worked for and saved my entire life is gone. I don't even know where to begin.”

The price of construction materials, including timber, bamboo, cement, and corrugated iron sheets, has surged alongside rising inflation. These costs have made even a basic wooden house unaffordable for the average family.

Many families lost all their lifelong belongings and household items in the strikes, forcing them to seek shelter with relatives, at local monasteries, or in makeshift huts near their ruined properties.

“Some people have nowhere to go and are staying at monasteries. Some couldn’t even save a single change of clothes,” said a resident of Mrauk-U’s Kontheltan Ward. “The lack of an aerial early warning system is a major challenge. If we had a proper system to warn us of incoming strikes, we could at least take precautions.”

Thousands of homes across Arakan State have been destroyed by the military council’s aerial bombardments and heavy artillery fire during the conflict, making the prospect of rehabilitation a distant reality for many.

Meanwhile, residents in areas controlled by the Arakan Army (AA) face additional hurdles. While the Arakan Army has restricted logging to prevent deforestation, the policy has inadvertently made it harder for those needing timber to rebuild.

“From one perspective, I understand the Arakan Army’s efforts to prevent excessive logging. But those who lost their homes are struggling,” said a youth in Ann. “Even those who can afford to build find that timber and posts are scarce and expensive. I believe there should be exceptions for people who desperately need to rebuild.”

Caught between the struggle for daily survival and the daunting task of reconstruction, those who lost their homes continue to navigate a life of extreme hardship amidst the ongoing conflict.