Regime airstrike on Maungdaw Twsp village injures six IDPs

By Admin 19 Jun 2024

DMG Newsroom
19 June 2024, Maungdaw

Six ethnic Thet internally displaced people (IDPs) were injured in a junta air attack on Aungzeya Village, part of Arakan State’s Maungdaw Township, at around 2 a.m. on June 18, locals said.

A junta jet fighter opened fire on the village three times, wounding U Aung Kyaw Tun, 50, Ma Than Than Soe, 17, Ma Thandar Soe, 25, Maung Saw Naing Tun, 20, Ma Hla Nyunt Aye, 17, and Daw Ma Phyu Sein, 53, as well as destroying six homes.

“The junta jet fighter intentionally opened fire on the village without any fighting in the area,”  said a local resident. “Six people sustained injuries to their bodies and one of them is considered life-threatening. The injured are being treated in the village.”

Hundreds of IDPs from Maungdaw Town and surrounding villages are taking refuge in Aungzeya Village, and many are planning to move to new locations following the regime airstrikes.

Multiple artillery shells fired by the Border Guard Force Battalion No. 5 in Maungdaw’s Myothugyi Ward landed and exploded near Aungzeya and nearby villages at about 5 p.m. on Tuesday, locals said.

“Fighting has been fierce since the Arakkha Army (AA) announced the battle for control of Maungdaw. We always hear gunfire. IDPs are facing food challenges,” said a Maungdaw resident.

Fierce fighting followed after the AA on June 16 issued a notice to residents to leave Maungdaw as soon as possible, as the ethnic armed group was preparing to attack the remaining junta camps in the border town.

The AA has seized several junta bases, military camps and Border Guard Force (BGF) outposts in Maungdaw. It has also stepped up attacks on Border Guard Police Battalion Nos. 2 and 5 and the Nar Khaung To camp.

Civilian casualties continue to rise as the regime carries out airstrikes on towns and villages held by the AA in Arakan State.