Kyaing Hein Lin, Narinjara News, 25 January 2025 

Although there has been no ground combat since the Arakan Army (AA) took control of 14 townships in Arakan State and Paletwa Township in Chin State, many residents remain unable to go home due to concerns over junta airstrikes and artillery bombardments. 

A community member stated, "A lot of individuals in almost every city have not gone back home. The primary cause is the fear of the junta's aerial assaults. The military is also hitting civilian areas with these attacks, so even though the combat has ceased, people are still too frightened to return.”

No returnees have yet come back to Pauktaw, Rathedaung, and Ponnagyun, which are adjacent to Sittwe. In Maungdaw, inhabitants are removing the rubble from their houses prior to departing the town. 

U Tet Tun Aung, a previous Amyotha Hluttaw member from Pauktaw Township, stated that besides the airstrikes on Pauktaw, Rathedaung, and Ponnagyun, situated near Sittwe, the junta's military bases in Sittwe are also launching artillery attacks and shelling from navy ships, hindering residents from going back to their houses. 

"The residents are unable to return, as the junta is persistently shelling from both the navy and Sittwe city. The ongoing bombardment creates a hazardous environment for individuals to return. The AA is additionally stopping individuals from accessing and staying in these towns due to worries about their safety," he stated. 

In the battle to seize Pauktaw, Ponnagyun, and Rathedaung last year, artillery fire from the junta's bases in Sittwe ruined the houses of numerous residents in these areas. 

U Tet Tun Aung highlighted that the AA must fully seize Sittwe for locals to come back. 

The people displaced from these three towns are encountering significant difficulties, such as shortages of food and shelter. In summary, managing Sittwe is essential. These individuals can only go back to their residences to live and work once Sittwe is secured," he stated. 

He conveyed profound sadness regarding the current circumstances, where many individuals in Arakan endure poverty because of the conflict, and some are compelled to beg. 

A resident of Rathedaung shared that the community has faced numerous challenges since being uprooted by the conflict over a year back. 

"Individuals are experiencing significant distress. Assets have been ruined or vanished, and numerous individuals have fled the violence. Too many individuals are currently begging for food," he stated. 

After the resurgence of the Arakan conflict on November 13, 2023, the Arakan Army (AA) completely seized Pauktaw Town on January 19, 2024, then Ponnagyun on March 4, 2024, and Rathedaung on March 17, 2024. 

In Arakan State, the military regime currently governs just three towns: Sittwe, Kyaukphyu, and Manaung. The AA has assumed authority over all other townships, such as Paletwa. Nevertheless, the majority of residents have still not managed to come back to their houses. 

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) reports that approximately 600,000 individuals are presently displaced in Arakan State, with the majority experiencing food insecurity, inadequate healthcare, and interruptions to phone and internet connectivity. 

Moreover, landmine removal efforts continue in certain townships governed by AA, hindering residents from coming back to their houses.