Monthly Report | November 2024

November 2024:Escalation and Suffering in Arakan

Monitoring of a brief situation of political tension, economic issues, social issues, and humanitarian issues in Arakan in November 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 armed clashes continued to intensify in Arakan during November 2024. The AA advanced in the Ann, Gwa, and Maungdaw warzones. On the other hand, the SAC continued its bombings over civilian areas under AA control, and SAC conscripts were also reported to be fleeing from the frontline. Bangladesh’s high-level foreign officials publicly remarked that the ULA/AA should be included in the process of resolving the Rohingya refugee crisis on the border.

- The agricultural sector continued to suffer in the Arakan economy. Rising rice prices also hit the most vulnerable IDPs in Ann. Additionally, other basic commodities like fuel are still in low supply. A dangerous report stated that child labor is on the rise in the job market, especially when family members face greater hardships in their livelihoods. Locals in Rambree reportedly faced hunger due to the junta blockade.

- After a local from Kyaukphyu was detained at the airport, the junta navy in Myebon Township captured Muslim fishing boats, stole fuel and money, and enforced a fishing prohibition. Additionally, the women's community lacked access to HPV vaccinations, and concerns about diarrhea among Kyauktaw IDP children in the Myo Creek area, situated between Mrauk-U and Minbya, left 10 dead due to the lack of medication. The scarcity of medicines and inadequate healthcare still posed a huge threat to patients in Arakan.

- The total number of IDPs was recorded as nearly 600,000 during November 2024. The junta forces destroyed almost 100 homes close to the Nazi village police station in Sittwe. The intense battles in Ann town prompted around 3,000 residents from two villages to escape. Thousands of IDPs were reported to face food shortages in Thandwe.

Table of Content

Part- I: Political Affairs

Part- II: Economic Situations

Part- III: Social Issues

Part- IV: Humanitarian Issues

Part- I: Political Affairs

On November 1, in Ann, the SAC was accused of arson attacks on villages near Western Command. Then, in Taungup, the AA began an assault on Junta's artillery base. In the next day, in Ann, the SAC conscripts fled the military front revealing heavy losses and desertions. On another front, reports said that in Gwa town, the junta prepared defense while intensifying the aerial attacks in Maungdaw. On November 3, two civilians vanished in Gwa township after the military ordered supply runs to the combat zone.

On that day, in Sittwe, dozens of female inmates among hundreds of political prisoners were transferred from Sittwe to Pathein.

“As far as I know, female political prisoners are among hundreds of inmates transferred to Pathein from Sittwe. Some female prisoners still face trial. I don’t know exactly under which sections they were charged with,” said a family member of a political prisoner who was transferred to Pathein from Sittwe.

On the next day, AA captured a junta artillery battalion in Taungup Township. On the same day, the AA also seized a junta engineering battalion checkpoint in Ann Township. Then, on November 5, the SAC launched a counteroffensive on an AA-held base in Ann. In Buthidaung, it was reported that the AA members killed, six others injured in RSO ambush. Then, on November 6, around 20 Bangladeshi fishermen were held for crossing the border, said the AA spokesperson.

On November 7, the SAC imposed restrictions on church prayers in Sittwe. Two days later, it was reported that in Ann and Taungup warzones, many corpses of armed Muslim youths were discovered. On November 9, on the border between Magway and Arakan states, four junta soldiers were captured while fleeing battle in Ann.

On November 9, the battle for control of Taungup raged on. On the next day, in Thandwe, two women were killed in junta airstrikes on AA-held areas. On November 12, the AA took credit for the junta helicopter crash landing. Two days later on November 14, the AA said that its forces were close to capturing four more towns in Arakan. Then, on November 18, it was reported that the SAC killed over 700 civilians in Arakan and Paletwa in one year. Two days later, the Muslim armed groups extorted Muslim IDPs fleeing to Bangladesh from Maungdaw. Then, on November 21, the AA began its attacks on No. 5 Military Operations Command (MOC-5) in Arakan.

A ground source said; “The AA launched the attack at around 6 a.m. on November 21 and the regime brought in air and artillery support. The AA has encircled the MOC-5.”

Two days later, in Gwa, the AA captured numerous villages in Gwa Township, such as Satthwa, Peinhnekone, and Zeekone. On the next day, on November 24, it was reported that "Disregarding the AA would not be realistic in addressing the Rohingya issue," said by the Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Adviser.

On November 26, in Taungup, stalls were reduced to ashes in a junta airstrike on Taungup night market. Then, two days later, it was reported that in Taungup, the AA seized a junta battalion. On November 29, the AA continued its assault on the last standing junta battalion in Maungdaw. One day later, it was reported that the SAC planes continued to bomb AA-held Thandwe.

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