Latest fighting in Rathedaung Twsp prompts further civilian flight

By DMG 31 Aug 2022

DMG Newsroom
31 August 2022, Rathedaung

Fierce clashes broke out between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army in Rathedaung Township, Arakan State, on the evening of August 30, prompting more than 1,000 locals to flee to safer locations.

Fighting between the military and AA erupted near Manyintaung, Pyainetaw and Nyaungbinhla villages, and heavy weapons fire was heard, a local woman told DMG.

“The fighting broke out near Nyaungbinhla village and heavy weapons and small arms fire were heard. The artillery shells, believed to be fired by the military, landed near the village. No one was injured, but all residents left their homes. Residents spent a night at the village monastery and fled to Cedipyin village in the morning,” she said.

“The sound of heavy weapons fire and explosions were heard,” said a local man from Yaymyet village. “When I phoned one of my friends about the situation, he told me that artillery shells landed on the road near Manyintaung [village]. I heard 20 sounds of heavy weapons fire and the fighting lasted for 30 minutes.”

At least 1,000 local people from villages including Pyainetaw, Nyaungbinhla, Aungmyegon, and a handful of other villages, fled to safer locations.

“Most people couldn’t bring anything with them when they fled. We are thinking about how to address our livelihood problems. I want to urge the armed groups to stop fighting if possible,” said a resident of Nyaungbinhla village.

The displaced people (IDPs) are taking shelter in Cedipyin, Kyaukyan, Theintaung and Ngwetaung villages, and are reportedly facing difficulties. The IDPs are being provided with food items, said Ko Aung Min Soe, a resident of Rathedaung town.

“Elderly people and children from Saphokyun and Kanpyin villages were evacuated to Cedipyin village for fear of being shot by the warships,” he told DMG.

“Some IDPs stay at their relatives’ homes. We counted the number of displaced people and asked local social aid groups for help. It is not easy for the villagers to feed the displaced people in the long run, due to skyrocketing commodity prices,” he added.

Thousands of locals have fled their homes due to fighting between the military and the Arakan Army in Arakan State’s Mrauk-U, Maungdaw, and Rathedaung townships, as well as in neighbouring Paletwa Township, Chin State, in recent days.