Fearing potential clashes, residents flee Kyauktaw

By Admin 28 Dec 2023

DMG Newsroom
28 December 2023, Kyauktaw

Thousands of residents have fled Kyauktaw for fear that fighting might imminently take place in the town.

About 1,000 residents from four wards in Kyauktaw town fled their homes on Wednesday alone, frightened by the junta’s shelling of neighbouring Mrauk-U.

“People were frightened by the incident in Mrauk-U. They have concerns as junta troops are targeting civilians. So, they have fled,” said a Kyauktaw resident.

Junta troops and the Arakan Army (AA) have been fighting fiercely in Mrauk-U town since Sunday. Casualties have been reported in the ancient capital of Arakanese kingdoms as the regime carried out attacks using artillery, manned aircraft and drones.

A man who fled Kyauktaw town said: “There have been rumours that fighting will also take place in Kyauktaw. We can’t predict the military situation. So, we fled to avoid the fighting. We are scared by what happened in Mrauk-U.”

There are many displaced people taking shelter in Kyauktaw town after they were displaced by military-AA fighting in 2019. While some displaced people in Kyauktaw town are evacuating to safe places, others can’t afford to leave.

“As life is the most important thing, we have sold our life’s savings to pay the costs for evacuating. But some people have financial difficulties to flee. So, some remain in the displacement camp,” said an IDP from the displacement camp opened at the railway station in Kyauktaw town.

Some 140,000 people have been displaced by fighting in Sittwe, Ponnagyun, Rathedaung, Buthidaung, Maungdaw, Mrauk-U, Minbya, Pauktaw, Myebon, Ann and Ramree townships since renewed hostilities began on November 13.