AA fighters moves closer to Rakhine capital Sittwe

The Arakan Army (AA) fighters are moving closer to the Rakhine State capital Sittwe, it was described in an overview of the current situation by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA).

The UN OCHA released the Asia and Pacific weekly regional humanitarian snapshot of Myanmar on 6 March, where it was hinted that AA fighters were moving to Sittwe.

The infographic (spanning 27 February to 4 March) stated that since the previous informal ceasefire was broken on 13 November, an estimated 148,500 people were newly displaced in the Rakhine region and Paletwa of Chin State.

Across Myanmar, more than 2.7 million people have been displaced.

The infographic also revealed the casualties because of the military junta's artillery shelling in the downtown Sittwe market in February.

"On 29 February, an artillery shell landed in the downtown Sittwe market resulting in the death of at least 21 civilians and injuries to 30 others,” stated the infographic.

It also added that the armed clashes, including the intensified airstrikes and artillery shelling in various Rakhine townships, have increased stress and worries among the residents.

Moreover, since late February, there has been a rise in shelling from the junta bases located in Sittwe township.

 The  Arakan Army (AA) has fully captured  Ponnagyun township near Sittwe, the capital city of Rakhine State, on Monday and also gained control over two district-level towns and seven  townships in the last three  months of offensive attacks.

The captured and controlled district-level towns include  Mrauk-U and Paletwa (of Chin State). Seven townships including Mrauk-U, Paletwa, Kyauktaw, Pauktaw, Minbya, Myebon and Ponnagyun were also won.