The Arakan Army (AA) forcibly displaced more than 17,000 people, trapped in Maungdaw town of Arakan State, within eight days amid the gun fighting.

United League of Arakan (ULA) said, starting on 7 August, the AA members began displacing those trapped people. By 15 August, a total of 17,029 individuals were displaced.

The displaced people are mostly Rohingya Muslims including women, children, elderly and ailed persons.

According to ULA  the displace initiatives were taken as follows:

·    7 August: 4,000 people were displaced from La Thar ward.

·    8 August:  1,500 people were displaced from ward number 1, 2 and 5, as well as from Ka Nyin Tan, Bo Hmue, Phay Zi, Aye Ta Li Yar, Har Bi, Shwe Zar (Zay Di Pyin) and Kat Pa Kaung areas.

·    9 August:  7,000 people were displaced from Pan Taw Pyin, Ka Nyin Tan and Nyaung Chaung areas in northern Maungdaw locality.

·    10 August:  1,054 people were displaced from Pan Taw Pyin, Nyaung Chaung, Bo Hmue, and Maung Ni areas.

·    11 August:  166 people were displaced from Pan Taw Pyin and Ka Nyin Tan areas.

·    12 August: 798 people were displaced from Pan Taw Pyin and Ka Nyin Tan areas.

·    14 August: 1,073 individuals displaced from La Thar, Shwe Zar, La Baw Zar, Kan Sone, Maung Ni, Bo Hmue and Ka Nyin Tan areas.

·    15 August:  1,438 people were displaced from La Thar, Shwe Zar, La Baw Zar, Phay Zi, Maung Ni,  Bo Hmue, Ah Lel villages and ward number 1 and 2.

A local journalist claims that they have been forcibly displaced. Most of them are Rohingya Muslims. They were forcibly removed by the Arakan Army to take full control of the area in the ongoing conflict against the junta's army.

BOB Post