Aung Htein — The returnees left camp life behind because they were facing hardships getting adequate food and accommodation at Zedipyin, and wanted to cultivate farmlands near their home villages during the coming monsoon season, IDPs said. They are residents of villages such as Pauktawpyin, Phetkya and Painnedaw, with most coming from Pauktawpyin.

Although they have returned home, the now former IDPs remain worried about the possibility of new clashes near their village because Tatmadaw troops are deployed in the area, said a villager from Pauktawpyin who did not want to reveal their identity for security reasons.

“We were facing a lot of difficulties at the camp. So, we returned home with the hope of ease. But we are not sure if we can sleep soundly at home,” the villager told DMG.

Another villager who did not reveal their name due to security concerns said houses and shops in the village were found to have been ransacked.

“When we arrived at the village, we saw everything was scattered like the situation after a storm. Nothing left in shops. The roofs of the houses were broken and boxes in the houses were opened. Clothes were scattered on the floor,” the villager told DMG.

More than 1,000 people from Pauktawpyin, Aung Baung Taw, Phetkya and Painnedaw villages fled to Zedipyin village on March 18 due to clashes between the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army near their villages.

The long-running conflict between the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army has displaced more than 164,000 people in Arakan State, many of whom struggle to meet basic needs such as food, clothing and healthcare.