Evicted Sittwe residents struggle to find new shelter

By Admin 22 Nov 2024

DMG Newsroom
22 November 2024, Sittwe

Residents evicted from their homes near the police outpost in Sittwe’s Setyonesu Ward have been struggling to find new shelters.

More than 50 families initially took refuge in monasteries, but many have since been asked to leave.

“We’ve been here for over a month and a half. The monastery is now telling us to leave and find somewhere else, but we have nowhere else to go,” said one evicted woman.

Residents were evicted earlier this month after police demanded that houses near their outpost be removed for security reasons. Residents received no compensation or land plots for relocation.

Another evicted resident said: “We have lost our home, and the money we have will only last another month. Without a job, we might have to resort to stealing to survive.”

The military regime has fortified the police outpost in Setyonesu Ward, digging trenches around it.

Meanwhile, thousands of residents forced out of Byaing Phyu Village and Shwe Pyi Thar Ward are struggling to make ends meet in monasteries and at relatives’ homes.

A relative of a Byaing Phyu villager said: “I heard the regime provided some rice and healthcare services for the first few months. However, they have received nothing since. They are all having a hard time.”

The regime evicted residents from Shwe Pyi Thar Ward and Kyeetaw Village on September 15. Junta troops have since been deployed in Shwe Pyi Thar.

“Initially, the government [junta] provided some rice and minimal healthcare, but now we receive nothing. Everyone is struggling,” said a relative of a displaced Byaing Phyu resident.

Following frequent clashes between the junta and the Arakkha Army (AA) in Sittwe Township, the junta has deployed more troops around the Arakan State capital while digging trenches.

Many residents have already fled Sittwe for fear of possible fighting in the town, but some residents remain due to junta blockades and financial difficulties.