Due to the resumption of fighting between the military regime and the Arakan State Army (AA), there are now 16,000 refugees in Rakhine state who need humanitarian aid, community volunteers told Than Lwin Times.
Since August 13, the fighting between the junta armed forces and the AA has intensified in Paletwa Township in Chin State, including Mrauk U and Maungdaw Township of Rakhine State.
The refugees fleeing the fighting are seeking refuge in some neighbourhoods and surrounding monasteries as a result of the conflict, while those in Paletwa are heading to the Indian state of Mizoram.
According to Ashin Thabawa Nadi, general secretary of the Rakhine Monks Association, which is assisting refugees, those escaping the battle currently require accommodation, food, and medicine.
There are more than 7,000 women among the IDPs, and the majority are children under the age of 18 and the elderly.
However, the military council neither supports refugees fleeing the war, nor restricts the travel and support of international organizations that provide humanitarian aid, such as the ICRC and the United Nations World Food Program (WFP).
The veteran politician, U Pe Than, warned that the conflict in Rakhine State may worsen as a result of the harsh restrictions imposed by both sides.
The United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/ AA) announced on August 23 that the military's ban on the movement of humanitarian groups and the transportation of goods may make it difficult for health, living, and food in the long run.
The military council is also alleged to have incited racial and religious tensions, disrupted the ULA's administrative processes, and threatened and attempted to arrest ULA members.
Currently, the fierce fighting between the junta army and AA has continued in Rakhine State. On August 31, the junta's mile post no. 40 camp on the border of Rakhine State and Bangladesh was attacked and captured by AA.
From the end of 2018 to October 2020, fierce fighting between the AA and the military council took place in northern Rakhine State and Paletwa Township in Chin State, and now there have been renewed clashes.
