One week, 70 civilian casualties reported in Arakan State

By DMG 22 Nov 2022

DMG Newsroom
22 November 2022, Sittwe 

At least 70 civilians were killed or injured by artillery strikes, gunfire and a landmine encounter blamed on Myanmar’s military regime over a one-week period from November 10-16 in Arakan State and neighbouring Paletwa Township, Chin State. 

Twenty-seven civilians were killed and 43 others were injured in the conflict-related violence, according to a DMG tally. 

Four people were killed and 12 others were injured in Kyauktaw Township; 11 people were reported dead and one other was injured in Ponnagyun Township; two people were wounded in Mrauk-U Township; one person was injured in Sittwe Township; and 13 people were killed and 27 others injured in Maungdaw Township. 

Twelve residents were killed and at least 27 others were injured after three mortar shells landed and exploded in Jeitchaung Village, Maungdaw Township, on November 16. 

A 16-year-old from Jeitchaung Village who was severely injured in the mortar attack succumbed to shrapnel wounds while hospitalised on Friday. 

“Several people were killed and injured after three mortar shells fell on a home in the village. My younger brother succumbed to shrapnel wounds at Sittwe Hospital on November 18,” said Maung Ye Lin Naing, the elder brother of the 16-year-old victim. 

Local villagers have claimed that the regime was responsible for the fatal shelling. Myanmar military officers, however, attempted to shift blame to the Arakan Army as they provided food supplies and cash to victims and their families on November 17. 

Meanwhile, residents fled to safer locations last week after two mortar shells landed and exploded in Shwepyithit Village, Kyauktaw Township, a villager said. 

“Two artillery shells fell in the village in a week without there being any fighting. The military fired heavy weapons into the village on purpose,” the villager added. 

Over 2,000 people call Shwepyithit Village home, and most residents have fled to nearby villages out of fear that more artillery shells might be fired in their direction. 

“Fighting between the military and the Arakan Army will continue,” predicted a former Arakan State MP. “I don’t want people to be harmed by the fighting. The relevant armed groups need to be careful not to harm the local people.” 

Three civilians were killed and 23 others were injured in shooting incidents and landmine explosions in Arakan State and Paletwa Township in September, according to a DMG tally.  Eleven people were killed and 31 others injured in similar incidents across those areas in October.