Following an immediate evacuation order from the military council, people from seven villages near the Ann-Sittwe road in Ann Township were forced to flee their homes, taking only the clothes on their backs, according to local residents.
Kyaung Phyu Kwin, Yar Thar, Kywe Tha Lin, Pyin Taw Gyi, new Nay Kar, Gway Kaing and Kyat villages are located near Mae Taung, where fighting is taking place, a local said.
On 6 October, the Western Command ordered the villages suspected of having a presence of the Arakan Army (AA) near the Mae Taung area to relocate, the local said.
“Today, the people from seven villages including Kyaung Phyu Kwin and Yat Thar villages are forced to relocate as quickly as possible. The villagers had no time to take any belongings. The junta threatened to bomb the villages. They all fled to safer places out of fear of the bombings. Fighting is intensifying in the nearby area. We fled the village with just the clothes on our backs, fearing daily bombings near the conflict areas,” the local said.
The conflict-affected villages are the small ones. Some of these villages are home to both Chin and Arakan people, while others are solely inhabited by the Chin community.
“The villagers have fled to Ann town. Now some people have taken refuge in An. Some people have fled to nearby villages. I think the total number of displaced people will exceed 600. Everyone is fearful of potential bombings, the local added.
Among those displaced, families without NRC cards have sought refuge in areas without military presence, rather than going to Ann.
There are 50 households in Kyaung Hpyu Kwin village, 20 in new Nay Kar village, 25 in Gway Kwin village, 35 in Yatthar village, 30 in Kywe Tha Lin village, 25 in Pyin Taw Gyi village and 20 in Kyat village, according to local residents.
Although the military established Taw Hein Taung and Mae Taung Strategic Hill near the Ann-Sittwe Road as key defenses to prevent losing control of the western command (Ann) to the AA, the AA has successfully captured Taw Hein Taung.
Fierce battles are taking place around Mae Taung as the AA has launched another offensive against the Mae Taung strategy. In response, the military council is conducting heavy bombings.
Currently, the fighting has spread near Ann’s Western Command. Since September, the AA has launched multiple heavy shell and drone attacks on the command, resulting in significant casualties for the junta’s forces.
Sent by Narinjara
