Maung Sar Ga, Narinjara News, 11 August 2024

The Arakan Army (AA) fighters rescued over 12,000civilians trapped in Maungdaw township, located on the western border of ArakanState, amid the ongoing intense fighting. The rescue operation wasconducted from 7 to  9 August.

On the last day, the AA fighters rescued over 7,000civilians, including Arakanese, Hindus, Rohingya Muslims and other ethnic groups, fromPan Taw Pyin, Ka Nyin Tan and Nyaung Chaung villages in Maungdaw locality.

On the previous day,  they rescued over 1,500Muslims from Ka Nyin Tan, Bo Hmue, Phay Zi, Aye Tar Li Yar, Har Bi, Shwe Zar(Zay Di Pyin) and Kat Pa Kaung villages. Some residents were also rescued fromwards number 1, 2 & 5 of Maungdaw town.

Similarly on the first day, they  rescued over4,000 civilians from La Thar ward in Maungdaw.

“The AA is continuously rescuing those who were usedas human shields by the junta forces and others trapped in Maungdaw. In recentweeks, the residents are fleeing through various ways,” said an AA statement.

The rescued individuals were brought to safe locationsand offered the food and medical care.

"The AA fighters are coming into the town and ifthere’s a fight, we’ll be caught in the middle. That’s why we fled. They arealso helping us by transporting elderly and sick people on motorbikes," aMuslim resident told Narinjara News.

There were also casualties due to disruptions causedby the junta soldiers during the AA’s rescue operations.

On 9 August, during a rescue operation, the juntaforces and armed Muslims ambushed and opened fire  with small arms. KechMar Ni, a 22-year-old Hindu woman from Ywar Thit ward of  Maungdaw town,was killed by a gunshot wound near her abdomen.

Similarly on 7 August, U Abdula, a 40-year-old Muslimman from La Thar ward in Maungdaw town, stepped on a landmine, planted by thejunta forces, in a field near the road.

Lately, the AA fighters penetrated Maungdaw andcaptured almost the entire area from the junta forces and Muslim armed groups.Now they are accelerating the offensive to fully secure the town.