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No Way Home: Arakan Army Blocks Rohingya From Returning to at Least 34 Villages in Buthidaung Township, Arakan Now Investigation Finds

  • Writer: Arakan Now
    Arakan Now
  • Dec 15
  • 2 min read

Updated: Dec 16

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Arakan Now | 16 December 2024


Since October 2023, fighting between Myanmar’s military junta and the Arakan Army (AA) in Maungdaw and Buthidaung townships has caused widespread destruction and mass displacement. Thousands of civilians were killed, while many others were forced to flee their homes, becoming internally displaced or crossing into Bangladesh and other areas.


Large parts of Buthidaung town and surrounding villages were burned to ashes during the conflict. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Bangladesh, more than 150,000 Rohingya have entered Bangladesh since fighting escalated.


On 18 May 2024, the Arakan Army officially announced that Buthidaung Township had come under its complete control. In the months that followed, the AA began establishing IDP camps for displaced Rohingya while constructing new villages for Rakhine settlers on land previously occupied by Rohingya communities.


Arakan Now has documented multiple villages in both the northern and southern parts of Buthidaung Township where no active fighting was taking place at the time residents were ordered to leave and where they have since been prevented from returning.


Investigation Findings


An Arakan Now investigation found that at least 34 Rohingya villages remain inaccessible to their original residents, despite the absence of active fighting in those areas.


Villagers interviewed by Arakan Now said they were blocked from returning to their homes even after repeated requests to the Arakan Army.


The affected villages identified by Arakan Now include:


  1. Myaung Nar Upper Ywar

  2. Ba Go Nar

    • Myaung Nar Kan

    • Taung Ywar

    • Htin Shar Pyin

  3. Let Wea Det Pyin Shey

  4. Ka Kyet Bet Kan Pyin

    • Tat Yar

    • Mun Shi Ywar

    • Oe Thei

  5. Kyar Nyo Pyin

  6. Htan Shauk Kan

  7. Ah Twin Hnget Thay

  8. Bar Ri Zar

  9. Pyar Pin Yin

  10. Ywet Nyo Taung

  11. Kun Taing

  12. Da Pyu Chang

  13. Nar Yar Kone

    • Koto Seik

    • Raza Berha

  14. Tha Yet Kin Ma Nu

    • Kyet Mouk Taung (South)

    • Kyet Mouk Taung (North)

  15. San Hnyin Wai Pyin Shey (Rohingya)

  16. Ywar Ma

  17. Sin Oe Pyin (Ywar Gyi)

  18. Pu Zun Chaung

  19. Tat Min Chaung

  20. Kyauk Hpyu Taung

  21. Nga Kyi Tauk

  22. Aw Lan Pyin

  23. Maung Gyi Taung

  24. Pale Taung

  25. Dar Paing Sa Yar

  26. Hpaw Tay Ahr Li

  27. Ba Da Nar

  28. Mar Zi

  29. Khaik Mu Ra

  30. Ku Mi Khar Li

  31. Done Paing

  32. Thin Get Net

  33. Bo Gyi Chaung

  34. Pan Be Chaung


Arakan Now will continue to monitor developments in Buthidaung Township.


Remarks: This is a sensitive report. Any sharing, reproduction, or republication of this article, in whole or in part, must clearly and fully credit Arakan Now as the original source.

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