Hundreds of Mro IDPs trapped by Maungdaw fighting in need of food 

By Admin 17 Jun 2024

DMG Newsroom
17 June 2024, Maungdaw

Hundreds of ethnic Mro people trapped by fighting in Maungdaw Township, Arakan State, are reportedly in need of food supplies.

About 600 Mro internally displaced people (IDPs) from Thihoaye and Kainggyi villages are taking refuge at a monastery between Myothugyi and 3rd-Mile Village.

The IDPs are trapped by fighting as the Arakkha Army (AA) is currently attacking the junta’s Border Guard Force Battalion No. 5 in Maungdaw’s Myothugyi Ward and Border Guard Force Battalion No. 2 in 4th-Mile Village. Some children pinned down by the hostilities are suffering from illnesses.

“The AA has informed local people in Maungdaw to leave their homes. People are unable to go out and are trapped due to the fighting in 4th-Mile Village,” said a resident of Thihoaye Village.

Over the weekend, the AA issued a notice to residents to leave Maungdaw as soon as possible, as the ethnic armed group is preparing to mount an assault on the remaining junta camps in the border town.

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

“The Mro IDPs are unable to go to downtown Maungdaw and they don’t receive relief supplies due to lack of donors. We collect cash donations from well-wishers to help the Mro IDPs. We can’t withdraw cash and buy rice due to lack of money. The Mro IDPs are facing livelihood hardships as they can’t go fishing or collect vegetables,” said an aid worker.

Clashes between the military and AA have been reported in recent days in Maungdaw, Ann, Thandwe and Taungup townships, and thousands of locals have been forced to flee, while many others remain trapped by the fighting.