Border News Agency
Ponnagyun, October 5
The Myanmar military has continued carrying out airstrikes against villages and internally displaced persons (IDP) camps along the Ponnagyun–Kyauktaw road, an area controlled by the Arakan Army (AA).
Local residents in Ponnagyun Township said that a woman was killed when the Myanmar military carried out an airstrike on the Pan Nilar IDP camp at around 9 a.m. on October 5.
“The military is deliberately targeting IDP camps that are not military targets. They also bombed the area around Pan Nilar camp yesterday. The displaced people are now too afraid to stay there, so they have all fled,” a Ponnagyun resident told Border News Agency.
On October 4, the Myanmar military carried out an airstrike on the Yo Ngu (Bya La) IDP camp in Ponnagyun Township using two fighter jets. The attack killed six IDPs and injured many others.
Military tensions and fighting between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army have been increasing along the Ponnagyun–Kyauktaw border area since September 4.
Arakha residents say that the Myanmar military has been targeting civilians, IDP camps, and important transportation routes.
“The main road in the area that was attacked is an important route used by both IDPs and local residents. The military is using airstrikes and artillery attacks to threaten civilians who are not involved in the fighting,” a person helping IDPs in the area told Border News Agency.
On September 28, the Myanmar military carried out an airstrike near the India Market and Kassapanadi Bridge in Kyauktaw. The attack killed 50 people and injured nearly 60 others.
Men, women, children, elderly people, and pregnant women were among those killed and injured in the attack. The United League of Arakan (ULA) has stated that it will take action in response to attacks targeting schools, hospitals, and markets.
In addition, at around 9 p.m. on September 30, the Myanmar military carried out an airstrike using two fighter jets on accommodation where IDPs were staying near Kyauk Seik Village in Ponnagyun Township.
Because of the ongoing airstrikes and artillery attacks, local residents say that travel along the Ponnagyun–Kyauktaw road has become increasingly difficult, while the movement of goods has almost come to a halt.
They also said that IDP camps urgently need medicine and food assistance and that displaced people are facing the risk of being displaced again because of the continuing attacks.
