Monthly Report | May 2024

Mass Displacement: Over 185,000 Flee the Liberated Areas in Arakan

Monitoring of a brief situation of political tension, economic issues, social issues, and humanitarian issues in Arakan in May 2024.

About report

This report is part of the CAS's monthly series, which delves into four key areas of the state of Arakan. The first section addresses political concerns, including the armed revolution, junta activities, and issues of political freedom. The second examines the state's economic climate, focusing on rising prices, declining demand, foreign direct investment, and border trade. The third and fourth sections cover social and humanitarian issues, respectively; these include education, health, migration, and the internally displaced persons (IDP) population.

Key data in the report are sourced from local media outlets, such as DMG, Western News, among others. The aim of this report is to shed new light on the situation for observers endeavoring to comprehend the dynamics at play in the region.

Key Remarks

- The politics of Arakan during May were dominated by news of armed clashes and the AA’s victory over Buthidaung town, along with subsequent political allegations and complexities. The armed clashes in May were mainly reported in the southern townships of Buthidaung and Maungdaw, the central township of Ann, and the southern township of Thandwe. Junta forces in Arakan continue to suffer more.

- The catastrophic economic situation in May persisted. Several thousand staff members in the junta administration received no salaries. Scarcity of goods and commodities, along with rising prices of general commodities, added more hardships for the general population, especially the most vulnerable segments of society. Armed clashes in Thandwe caused the construction of the hydropower plant to cease, stranding hundreds of workers in the area.

- The unavailability of electricity, internet, and phone communications continued in most areas of the state. Blockages in communication provided more opportunities for junta soldiers to commit war crimes in the shadows. Mounting challenges regarding health and education accessibility are increasing, not decreasing.

- The number of displaced persons in Rakhine State, according to UNOCHA, increased to nearly 200,000. During the month of May, the newly displaced IDPs were mostly in Buthidaung and Thandwe. However, due to the blockage in humanitarian delivery, the majority of them are not receiving emergency services. On another front, the junta authorities are urging INGO/NGO staff who escaped the possibility of armed conflicts to return to urban Sittwe.

Table of Content

Part- I: Political Affairs

Part- II: Economic Situations

Part- III: Social Issues

Part- IV: Humanitarian Issues

Part- I: Political Affairs

In May, the politics of Arakan were mostly dominated by news related to armed conflicts, including casualties, surrenders, atrocities, displacements, inspections, military exercises, reinforcements, recruitment, and propaganda from the junta council (SAC authority). Additionally, there were inspections, seizures, warnings, and public relations activities from the ULA/AA, along with intense armed clashes between the two armed parties.

To start with the news related to the activities of the ULA/AA, on May 1, 2024, the AA seized a pair of strategic military camps in Maungdaw township while intercepting a junta convoy carrying weapons and food supplies on the Ann-Yangon highway. On the other hand, the AA also accused the Rohingya organizations of weaponizing the term ‘genocide’. The next day, the AA seized the junta’s No. 1 BGF headquarters in Kyee Kan Pyin Village, Maungdaw township. On May 5, nine major military bases in Buthidaung and Maungdaw were captured by the AA. Clashes broke out in surrounding villages near Shwe Hlay bridge, which is located a mile away from the hometown of the junta chief’s wife; artillery shells landed near her village on May 6. On May 14, the AA captured 4 junta battalions at Buthidaung’s entry point. Four days later, on May 18, the AA captured all junta battalions based in Buthidaung.

Military-AA clashes escalated in Ann township on May 20, 2024. One day later, the AA fighters launched an offensive on Maungdaw. On May 22, the AA announced that 326 cadets had completed course number-3. Three days later, the group condemned the joint statement on the situation in northern Arakan. On May 30, junta forces dragged villagers in Byine Phyu village, near Sittway, and forced them to kneel down. On the same day, the AA announced it would hold a press briefing regarding the current situation, especially about Buthidaung. Another news article mentioned that the AA rescued 98 prisoners, including Muslims, from Buthidaung jail.

On another front, regarding the actions of the SAC, it was reported that on May 1, 2024, the junta's border guard officers and soldiers fled in disorder from Kyee Kan Pyin headquarters. Next, on May 3, it was reported that around 1,500 houses were torched in Buthidaung by junta affiliates during April. One day later, the head of Maungdaw Myoma police station and an inspector fled with weapons and gold items. Two days later, 132 BGPFs fled to Bangladesh again. The junta reinforced its defense of Maungdaw on May 8, 2024. Three days later, facing casualties in Thandwe, junta forces deployed Muslims from Sittwe and conscripts from Ayeyarwady.

On May 18, it was reported that the junta asked to form a 25-member village security team in Gwa. Six days later, the junta boosted military reinforcements to Maungdaw once again. On May 24, it was reported that 50 bodies of junta soldiers were found floating on Lin Thi creek in Thandwe. Three days later, the AA said that the junta had detained 425 civilians in Arakan since the latest fighting began. Finally, as of May 31, 2024, it was reported that around 40 civilians in Byine-Phyu village near Sittway were killed by junta soldiers.

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