179 civilian-casualties reported in Rakhine State due to junta's attacks

The humanitarian and development coordination office (HDCO) belonging to  ULA/AA has announced on 4 April that a total of 647 civilians were killed and injured in Rakhine State from 13 November 2023 to 21 March 2024 due to the military junta's attacks.

During the period of over four  months, 179 people including 64 women were killed. Similarly, 468 people including 198 women were injured,

The casualties were reported following the junta soldiers’ artillery shelling and airstrikes.

HDCO also stated that 471 Rakhine people including 47 women were  arbitrarily arrested and detained by the junta.

Around  62,332 internally displaced persons (IDPs) were recorded during the conflict (2018 to 2020) and a surge of 295,868 IDPs in the resurgence of conflicts bringing the current number of IDPs in Rakhine State to 358,200.

The local residents from 15 out of 17 Rakhine townships  have not been able to return to their places. They are still taking shelter in relatives' houses or cams.

"We are facing the scarcity of food items. As we are not receiving any assistance from the military rulers, we have found it difficult to survive. Moreover, we have to spend sleepless  nights with the fear of junta’s airstrikes," said a woman from Mrauk-U township.

The IDPs in Rakhine State are in urgent need of food items, medicines, livelihood assistance and landmine clearance to facilitate their return to their places, asserted the HDCO.