Renewed hostilities between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army (AA) have escalated, spreading to various townships in western Myanmar, including Pauktaw. Civilians caught in the crossfire are facing dire conditions. A former member of parliament from Pauktaw expressed concern about the situation, mentioning the challenges faced by elderly, sick, and families with young children who couldn’t evacuate quickly. the Myanmar military
The clashes initially began in Rathedaung township on November 13 and have since extended to Maungdaw, Kyauktaw, Minbya, Pauktaw, Ponnagyun, and Paletwa, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA). The ongoing conflict has displaced over 26,000 people in western Rakhine state, prompting humanitarian concerns for the affected population.
The two parties had previously established an informal ceasefire in November 2022, according to the UN, but fighting broke out after the Arakan Army reportedly attacked two border posts.
In a statement released on Friday, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) said the latest figures brought the total number of internally displaced people due to the conflict between the two sides to approximately 90,000. It added that there had been reports of military shelling in Arakan Army-controlled areas.
Myanmar’s military had also conducted at least one operation backed by air and naval support, UNOCHA said.