Thousands of residents in Ponnagyun Township, Arakan (Rakhine) State, have been forced to flee due to artillery shelling by the junta from both land and sea.

Since late August, around 5,000 residents from the villages of Kuntaung, Aidin, Kywehto, Tankho, Kyawzan, Padaytha, Sininngyi, Ahtotethe, and Tabathlan have been forced to flee their homes to escape the junta’s arbitrate bombardments.

“Many villagers in Ponnagyun Township have fled their homes as the junta intensifies artillery shelling from its battalion bases and naval ships at sea. It is also stepping up reinforcements along the border, triggering mass evacuations,” an Aidin villager told DMG.

Ponnagyun Township is under Arakan Army (AA) control, and villages there are frequently shelled with artillery by junta troops stationed in neighboring Sittwe Township, resulting in civilian casualties.

Junta troops are currently repairing the Minchaung Bridge at the entrance to Sittwe City, a bridge they had destroyed, and locals said this might signal a junta's impending offensive against Ponnagyun Township.

“The junta has sent a large number of soldiers to its camps near villages like Amyintkyun, Kyauktanchay, and Yartan. Soldiers are also repairing the Minchaung Bridge, which they destroyed in the early days of the fighting in Arakan State. It looks like the junta might be preparing an offensive, which is why the AA has warned locals to evacuate early to stay safe,” a Ponnagyun resident said.

Military analysts say that if the junta attacks Ponnagyun Township, it would likely have to retreat quickly, as the geography and terrain there do not favor its forces.

In Sittwe Township, there is currently no heavy fighting between the junta and the AA, but the two sides remain in a standoff with frequent artillery exchanges.