More than 800 Muslims have been displaced by junta artillery strikes that followed fighting with the Arakan Army (AA) in Arakan State’s Buthidaung Township since September 23.

Villagers from Thabeik Taung (South), Sein Nyet Pyin and Gutar Pyin have fled to other villages and to Buthidaung town due to junta artillery strikes over the past week or so.

Some 400 villagers from Thabeik Taung (South) and Sein Nyet Pyin fled their homes following an artillery bombardment by junta forces on September 23.

“We have fled since that day, and dare not return home. Junta troops are deployed at Thabeik Taung (Arakanese) Village. Nearly half of the villagers have fled to nearby villages and their relatives,” said a Muslim villager from Thabeik Taung Village.

A Muslim man and woman in Thabeik Taung were injured in the shelling.

Some 400 Muslims from Gutar Pyin Village also fled their homes on September 26 following fighting between junta and AA forces between Gutar Pyin and Thayet Taung villages.

“There were artillery strikes, and we fled out of fear. We could not bring anything from our homes. So, we have to make do with what we have now. We have difficulties,” said a Gutar Pyin resident.

Junta troops are deliberately shelling residential areas in Buthidaung Township, said former Lower House lawmaker U Aung Thaung Shwe.

“Not only Arakanese residents but also Muslims have been forced to flee their homes due to artillery strikes. Every Myanmar military base is intentionally firing artillery shells to harm the people,” he said.

DMG was unable to obtain comment from Arakan State Security and Border Affairs Minister Colonel Kyaw Thura regarding the alleged junta shelling of villages.

Some 9,000 people have been displaced by the renewed fighting in Arakan State, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) in Myanmar said in a report on September 27.