At least 12 civilians, including a five-year-old child, were killed and 18 others were injured during airstrikes carried out by the Myanmar Air Force on an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Arakan State’s Ponnagyun Township on Friday.
Six IDPs were killed at the “Byarla” IDP camp in Ponnagyun on Oct 4. Wai Hun Aung, a humanitarian aid worker, stated that over 1,500 civilians live in the “Byarla” IDP camp after being displaced from their homes during fighting between the Arakan Army (AA) and regime forces in Ponnagyun, located 20 miles (32 km) north of the state capital Sittwe,
The AA seized Ponnagyun on March 4, 2024 after it launched its most recent offensive on Nov. 13, 2023, seizing a total of 14 Arakan townships, as well as neighbouring Chin State’s Paletwa Township.
At least two civilians were killed and five others were injured during airstrikes in Mrauk-U Township, located 88 miles (141 km) north of Sittwe, on Nov. 12. Mrauk was seized by the AA on Feb. 8, 2024.
A school and a Buddhist monastery were also reportedly damaged by the airstrikes in Mrauk-U. At least 17 civilians have been killed and 58 others have been injured in airstrikes across Arakan since Nov. 1, according to the AA.
Airstrikes have also targeted logistic routes, including five bridges across Minbya, Kyaukphyu and Ramree on Nov. 14. No casualties were reported by the AA.
Minbya and Ramree, located 109-278 miles (175-447 km) east and south of Sittwe, were seized by the AA in February and March 2024. The AA is contesting regime forces over the control of the strategic deep sea port town of Kyaukphyu, 317 miles (510 km) south of Sittwe.
The destruction of the bridges have disrupted the transportation of goods into Minbya and Ramree from the 14 towns under AA control, as residents there have had to rely on food, fuel and medicines imported from India’s Mizoram State, via Chin’s Paletwa, since the military placed a land and sea blockade into the region since late 2023.
Trade has completely halted in Kyauktaw Township, located 60 miles (96 km) north of Sittwe, after 50 people were killed during airstrikes on Sept. 28. Kyauktaw, the primary distribution hub for goods imported from India into AA-controlled territory, was seized by the AA in February 2024.
