Sounds of war leave Sittwe residents on edge

By Admin 22 Nov 2023

DMG Newsroom
22 November 2023, Sittwe

Many shops have been shuttered in the Arakan State capital Sittwe and the streets are largely deserted amid the regular sounds of gunfire and artillery strikes in the township.

The No. 12 security police force stationed near Settyoekya Jetty has repeatedly fired artillery into Sittwe Township since Tuesday at noon.

Shooting was also reported at a junction in Sittwe town on Tuesday night.

“There were three rounds of shooting last night, with dozens of gunshots in each round. This morning, around half of the shops shut down in Sittwe. Residents started panic buying at Sittwe market this morning. Residents have also fled to rural villages. We don’t feel safe in Sittwe town,” said a female resident of Danyawaddy Ward.

Another resident said: “I heard [junta soldiers] because people were still outside late at night. Some people were frightened and dared not stay in Sittwe. We now live in fear.”

Fresh fighting broke out between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army (AA) on November 13. The same night, the regime imposed a night-time curfew in Sittwe, instructing town residents not to go out after 9 p.m., and armoured vehicles were deployed to patrol the town in an apparent show of force.

“It appears that the situation is not very good in Sittwe. People are interested to see what will happen next. Some have fled to rural areas out of fear for their safety. But I am not going anywhere. If we leave, the regime will take cover in residential areas. So, I am not going anywhere,” said another resident from Sittwe.

Tens of thousands of people in Arakan State have fled their homes since the renewed fighting broke out on November 13.