By: Camp Correspondent
On January 30, 2025, the Arakan Army (AA) ordered Rohingya residents in multiple villages in northern Rakhine State to vacate their homes within a short timeframe, causing fear and uncertainty among the affected families.
Forced Eviction in Palei Daung Village
On January 29, the AA instructed Rohingya residents of Palei Daung village, northern Buthidaung, to leave within a week without providing any justification.
Most of the villagers had already fled to Bangladesh in 2017 due to the Myanmar military’s attacks. Now, only 12 families remain, and they are once again being forced to leave.
“Since the AA took control of Buthidaung, our village has been under their rule. There have been no battles here, yet they are forcing us out. We don’t want to leave our homes, land, and cattle, which belong to our ancestors,” a resident told RK.
Evictions in Gongna Hamlet, Maungdaw
On January 30, at 9:45 AM, the AA ordered all Rohingya in Gongna Hamlet, Ngan Chaung Village, northern Maungdaw Township, to vacate their homes by 6:00 PM the same day.
The hamlet has 73 houses and around 500 residents. Some families from downtown Maungdaw had recently sought refuge there after fleeing earlier violence. Now, they are being displaced again.
“They have nowhere to go, and some are planning to flee to Bangladesh,” said an anonymous resident.
Mass Displacement in Ward 5, Buthidaung
On January 28, AA soldiers forcibly removed all Rohingya residents from Ward 5, Buthidaung Township, at 9:00 AM. They were held in an open field near Let Wel Det Pyin Shay and Kyauk Hla Pyin villages without food or water for the entire day, only being allowed to return home at 5:00 PM.
Residents reported that while some AA soldiers forced them out, others entered their homes and conducted searches. In the fields, detainees were interrogated about their activities and questioned regarding any alleged connections to ARSA.
“The children were crying because they were hungry, but even water was not allowed,” a man said.
Rohingya Face Continued Persecution
These forced evictions are part of the ongoing Rohingya crisis in Myanmar. Since the military’s violent crackdown in 2017, over 700,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh. Those who remain in Myanmar face severe restrictions on movement, limited humanitarian aid, and frequent displacement due to the actions of the Arakan Army in Maungdaw, Buthidaung, and Rathedaung.
While Rakhine and Hindu residents in Buthidaung have been permitted to return to their homes, the Rohingya continue to be expelled. Despite the absence of active fighting for months, Rohingya villages and neighborhoods are still being emptied.
Human rights groups have condemned these actions, urging international intervention to stop the forced displacement of the Rohingya. However, the situation remains dire in Arakan State, with thousands of families now facing an uncertain future with no safe place to go.
