Burning of Homes and Displacement of Rohingya in Myanmar
As flames engulfed the town of Buthidaung in Myanmar’s west, up to 200,000 Rohingya people found themselves displaced, their homes destroyed in a weekend of widespread arson attacks. Families are now frantically attempting to reach their loved ones amidst the chaos.
The Rohingya, a Muslim-majority community in Myanmar, have been the target of mass atrocities and forced displacement for years, with many labeling the actions of the country’s military as genocide. Now, caught in the crossfire between conflicting forces, the Rohingya face escalating violence in a deepening conflict.
Since the military coup in February 2021, Myanmar has been embroiled in a civil war against ethnic armed groups and resistance forces. In Rakhine state, the Arakan Army, a powerful ethnic-minority armed group, seized control of a predominantly Rohingya town near the Bangladesh border, leading to reports of soldiers torching and looting homes, preventing residents from returning, and threatening those who try to contact family abroad.
With an internet and telecom blackout imposed by the junta, communication with those trapped in the conflict zone has become nearly impossible. Rohingya poet Farooq, residing in Bangladesh, shared his anguish at being unable to reach his family in Buthidaung since the weekend, learning that their home was burned down by the Arakan Army.
Reports of around 200,000 people fleeing their homes to escape the fires, including women and children seeking refuge in open fields without basic necessities, paint a grim picture of the unfolding crisis. Satellite imagery confirms the widespread destruction in Buthidaung, with the entire town ablaze.
As the violence escalates, concerns of genocide reemerge, echoing the brutal campaign against the Rohingya in 2016 and 2017. The UN has been urged to address the worsening human rights emergency in Myanmar, with the risk of further atrocities looming large.
The conflict between the Arakan Army and Myanmar’s military has intensified in recent months, leading to significant territorial gains by the AA. The shadow National Unity Government revealed that residents were ordered to evacuate Buthidaung prior to the attack, further exacerbating the plight of those affected.
The AA denies torching the town, attributing the destruction to the Myanmar military and allied groups. However, eyewitnesses and activists recount a harrowing tale of homes burning, residents fleeing, and a humanitarian crisis unfolding in Rakhine state.
The international community has condemned the violence, calling for an end to the bloodshed and urgent humanitarian aid to reach those in need. As the Rohingya face yet another wave of displacement and persecution, the world watches with bated breath, hoping for peace and justice to prevail.
