40-Day Rakhine Conflict: 34 civilians killed, 130 injured and 242 arrested

Between 13 November and 22 December (spanning 40 days since the onset of the Rakhine conflict), at least 34 civilians were killed, 130 injured and 242 arrested, said U Khaing Thukha, spokesperson for the United League of Arakan/ Arakan Army (ULA/AA).

He claimed that the military  council is consistently engaging in war crimes, pointing to deliberate actions where artillery shells and small arms were intentionally used against civilians, resulting in so many casualties.

"In Rakhine State, the military council persists in committing a range of war crimes against humanity, including deliberately shooting and killing civilians (who are not involved in the conflict), firing artillery shells, conducting airstrikes, deploying drones for bombings, and concealing the bodies of the deceased," he stated.

The casualties comprise three men and one woman of  Kyauktaw township, three  men and one  woman in Mrauk-U, six men and one woman in Minbya, one man and three women in Paletwa (of Chin State), one man in Sittwe, three men and four  women in Pauktaw, one man in Ann, one man in Maungdaw, one  man and two women in Buthidaung, one  man in Rathedaung and one man in Ramree (Yanbye) township.

The injured included three men and six women in Rathedaung, five men and two women in Buthidaung, seven men and two women in Maungdaw, seven  men and five women in Sittwe and two men and one  woman in Myebon township.

Additionally, there were nine  men and ten  women in Paletwa, three men and nine  women in Kyauktaw, 18 men and 19 women in Minbya, seven  men in Mrauk-U, six  women in Pauktaw, one man and one woman in Ponna Kyunt, four  men and two  women in Ann  and one  individual in Ramree township were wounded.

The arrestees hail from  14 Rakhine townships and Paletwa, where 205 are men and 37 women. According to Khaing Thukha, 32 individuals out of 242 arrested individuals were released by the military junta.

Currently, the conflict is going on across  Rakhine State. Quoting social activists, he added that the targeting of civilians by the soldiers has resulted in forced displacement of hundreds of thousands of people in the Rakhine region.

"In numerous townships, people are fleeing from both urban and rural areas. Those who choose to remain in their homes are also living in fear. We don't know what the military will do. Furthermore, with closed roads and a sharp increase in the prices of goods, some are experiencing hunger. It would be good if the roads were reopened," said a social activist based in  Ann township.

Regarding actions of the military council in Rakhine State, six international Rakhine organizations had penned an open letter to global leaders, including the UNSG. The letter underscored six main points, urging the cessation of human rights violations like unwarranted arrests, detentions, etc, prohibit the use of civilians as human shields, and avoid lethal acts.  It also called for prompt international assistance to aid innocent civilians, who have been displaced from their residences due to the ongoing conflict.