Junta orders evacuation of 7 Ann villages, residents stated leaving

Min Shin Saw, Narinjara News, 7 October 2024

The military junta ordered the immediate evacuation of seven villages near the Ann-Sittwe road under Ann township of Arakan State and many residents started leaving their places.

The evacuation order was meant for Kyaung Phyu Kwin, Yat Thar, Kywe Tha Lin, Pyin Taw Gyi, Nay Kar Ywar Thit, Gway Kine, and Kyet villages. All these villages are near Mel Taung, where the gun fighting is going on.

"We didn't have time to take anything with us. We were told that the airstrikes would be carried out and so the villagers fled. The fighting around the villages was intense, and the airstrikes were reported near the conflict area,” said a local resident.

On 6 October, the western command ordered the evacuation of villages around Mel Taung, where the fighting was going on between the junta soldiers and  Arakan Army (AA) fighters.

"Some villagers fled to Ann town, while others went to nearby villages. I believe that more than 600 people fled," added the resident.

The families without national registration cards did not flee to Ann town and instead they sought refuge in other areas where the junta forces are absent.

The evacuated villages are primarily inhabited by Arakanese and Chin people. Kyaung Phyu Kwin village has 50 households, Nay Kar Ywar Thit has 20 households, Gway Kwin has 25 households, Yat Thar  has 35 households, Kywe Tha Lin  has 30 households, Pyin Taw Gyi has 25 households and Kyet gives support to 20 households.

The junta established Taw Hein Taung tactical operation command and  Mel Taung tactical operation command near the Ann-Sittwe road as the primary defenses to prevent the collapse of the western command. However, the AA fighters captured Taw Hein Taung tactical operation command.

Later, they launched another offensive against Mel Taung tactical operation command. It resulted in intense fighting and the junta soldiers conducted a series of airstrikes over the area.

The ongoing fighting now reaches the western command. In September, the AA fighters started offensives using artillery shells and drones, which led to many casualties in the command base. (File photo)