NarinjaraNews, 14 May 2024
Around 7,000 Muslims inButhidaung township soughtrefuge in the territory under the control of Arakan Army (AA) on 8 May afterthey faced relentlessartillery shelling by the junta forces over a number of villages under Buthidaung township in Rakhine State.
The AA officials have accommodatedthose Muslim people at safe places with necessary care.
“The AA authorized persons gave shelter & food,who fled the battle zones to AA controlled areas, without any discrimination totheir religion or races. TheAA officials have arranged their accommodation and food items with necessary care,” said a person, assisting in therescue operations of those Muslims from the conflict localities.
The Muslimvillagers hail from Ka Kya Bat, Ka Kya Bat Kan Pyin, Myaung Nar, Ah Lel Chaung,Ba Gone Nar and Let Thar in Buthidaungtownship and they lefttheir places to escape the troubles.
SomeMuslims from these villages have reportedly fled the conflict to downtownarea of Buthidaung,which is still under the control of the junta forces, and someMuslim families got shelters in the 8th border guard police battalion base.
InButhidaung township, there are intense gun fighting between the junta forcesand AA fighters as the AA is waging a war to capture all junta battalions basedin Buthidaung. According to a reliable source, the AA occupied militaryoperation planning bureau (15)and at least eight battalion headquarters in Buthidaung locality so far.