81 civilians killed, 260 injured in junta shootings during 2 months of Rakhine conflicts

 The Humanitarian and Development Coordination Office (HDCO) of the United League of Arakan (ULA) disclosed on 18 January that from the onset of Rakhine conflicts on 13 November to 13 January this year, 81 Arakanese civilians were killed and 260 were injured by the junta’s airstrikes and artillery shells.

There were 28 fatalities & 103 injuries in November,  27 fatalities & 66 injuries in December, and 26 fatalities & 91 injuries in January, said a HDCO report.

At least 50 deaths and 171 injuries were caused by the artillery shell attacks.

The second largest number of fatalities was contributed by the small arms fire, resulting in the death of 18 civilians and causing injuries to 19 others.

The airstrikes caused two fatalities and 29 injuries, drone attacks resulted in seven deaths and 24 injuries, and landmine explosions led to one fatality and 10 injuries.

Moreover, three fatalities and four injuries were caused by the navy gunfire, the explosion of war remnants injured two individuals and one injury was done by other gunfire.

Mrauk-U township reported  the highest number of civilian deaths (25)  and injuries to 40 individuals.

Minbya recorded the second-highest number of fatalities (14) with injuries to 61 others.

Pauktaw had the third-highest death toll (11) with injuries to  23.

Kyauktaw and Buthidaung shared the fourth-highest number of deaths. Kyauktaw reported 10 deaths and 34 injured, whereas Buthidaung recorded 10 casualties and injuries to 21 individuals.

Additional fatalities include one  person in Maungdaw (with 17 injured), two dead and 10 injured in Rathedaung,  two dead and 15 injured in Sittwe, two injured in Ponnagyun, two dead and 19 injured in Paletwa, one  dead and six  injured in Myebon, two  dead and seven  injured in Ann, and one dead and two injured in Ramree (Yanbye) townships.

The list of fatalities comprises  the period from 13 November to 13 January.

In the battles of Rakhine State,  the junta forces have been  focusing more  on the residential wards and villages, rather than fighting against the Arakan Army (AA).

The army, navy, and air force personnel are launching multi-pronged assaults on residential areas of Rakhine State and the junta forces are conducting airstrikes on Mrauk-U, Minbya, Ponnagyun, Pauktaw, and Ramree townships, resulting in a large number casualties, following which many residents have left their places.