Hundreds of people who fled intense fighting in the northern part of Gwa Township, the southernmost area of Arakan State, are stranded at the military council’s checkpoint due to a ban on their passage, according to local residents from Gwa.
The gate where IDPs are prohibited from crossing is the Ywathitkone bridge gate on the Gwa-Thandwe road.
A stranded local resident reported that they had to wait at the gate all day on October 14.
“The drones are flying overhead, and we’re not allowed to pass because they say the drones are in the area. We fled from the north to the south of Gwa Township. There are about 50 motorcycles. The number of displaced people is in the hundreds. Amid the sounds of heavy shelling, we had to wait to get through the gate,” said the displaced local.
The stranded villagers are the ones from Ku Toe Law, Tha Bya Chaung, Kyway Chaing and Taing Kyo villages. Fierce fighting is taking place between the military council and the Arakha Army (AA), near these villages, the local continued.
A stranded local woman said, “Yesterday (13 October), the gate was closed from morning until 6 p.m. It reopened around 6:30 p.m., but it remains closed today. We feel very sorry that those who fled for their lives are being banned from passing.”
Local residents said they are stranded while fleeing to Gwa from their villages due to fears of the junta’s airstrikes, in addition to the fierce fighting.
A local said, “Since yesterday, people have been fleeing their homes. The fighting is intensifying, and the military council is conducting airstrikes. Bombs are landing in the villages, destroying houses and injuring people. They can no longer dare to stay there, so all the villagers have fled. Now they are stranded at the junta’s checkpoint on the Ywathitkone bridge.”
A long line of vehicles and motorcycles carrying displaced people stretches about three furlongs from Ywar Thit Kone village to Alechaung pagoda. They are unable to move forward due to the junta’s ban.
Sent by Narinjara