Border News Agency
Mrauk-U, September 22
Fighting has intensified as the junta launches offensives to retake Ponnagyun Township, which is under the control of the Arakan Army (AA).
As the junta is carrying out joint attacks by land, sea, and air, residents of Ponnagyun Township have been forced to flee their homes and seek refuge elsewhere.
Displaced residents from Ponnagyun Township who have fled to Mrauk-U Township reportedly need assistance with food and basic necessities.
The displaced people crossed the Kaladan River to reach Mrauk-U Township. They said they are in need of support for food and daily living expenses.
“We left about ten days ago. A bomb fell near U Razaung Taung Pagoda, and they were firing heavy weapons. We could no longer stay there, so we came toward Mrauk-U Township. We are staying with a family in someone else’s house. We are also struggling with food and basic necessities. There are six people in our family,” said Daw Eain Soe Tha, a displaced woman, speaking to Border News Agency.
The displaced people said they fled because the junta has been launching offensives against Ponnagyun Township and carrying out joint attacks by land, sea, and air on civilian areas.
Fighting has intensified near villages including Sapata, Aing Din, Kwan Taung, Aung Myay Kone, and Khamoung Taw in Ponnagyun Township. The junta has been conducting joint attacks by land, sea, and air, and civilians have also been injured.
The displaced people said they were forced to abandon their homes and flee because of the attacks.
“We fled because it became completely impossible for us to stay. Aircraft had been dropping bombs on our area for more than ten days. We could not remain there, so we left. We do not know how to make a living here. People here work on farms and catch fish for food, but we do not know how to do those things. We are also facing difficulties with food and basic necessities,” said U Than Han, a displaced person, speaking to Border News Agency.
The displaced people said that children, elderly people, people in poor health, and people with disabilities are among those who have fled.
They also said they urgently need food and basic necessities, healthcare, medicine, and financial assistance.
“Aircraft come and drop bombs in our village every day, and heavy weapons are fired at us from a distance. Because we could no longer stay there, I came with my family of five to Nat Chaung Village in Mrauk-U Township. We are facing many difficulties with food and basic necessities. I also have poor health because I have suffered a stroke. I can no longer move around,” said U Maung Tha Kyaw, an elderly displaced man, speaking to Border News Agency.
The displaced people said they have no employment opportunities and are facing severe hardship because commodity prices have risen sharply. They are struggling to survive as best they can.
They are temporarily staying in nearby villages wherever they can find shelter, but their difficulties have worsened because they have not received international humanitarian assistance.
“Aircraft were flying over our village, so we fled to Nat Chaung in Mrauk-U Township. Although we have escaped the fighting, we are still struggling with food and basic necessities,” said an elderly displaced woman, speaking to Border News Agency.
The displaced people are temporarily staying with relatives, friends, and nearby households wherever possible. However, they said they need assistance to remain in displacement for the long term.
Displaced people in Mrauk-U Township and other areas controlled by the Arakan Army number in the hundreds of thousands, and they are in need of international humanitarian assistance, according to the displaced people.
