by Hafizur Rahman
Maungdaw, Rakhine State | June 4, 2026
A house belonging to a displaced Rohingya family was destroyed by fire in Maung Ni Ward, Maungdaw Township, on June 3, according to local residents. The house had remained empty since the family fled the area during the fighting in Maungdaw.
The house belonged to Ismail, 30, who left the village with his family to seek safety during the conflict. Residents said the fire broke out around midday and completely destroyed the property.
The cause of the fire remains unknown. Local residents said it is not yet clear whether the incident was accidental or deliberate.
Most Rohingya residents of Maung Ni were forced to flee their homes during the conflict in Maungdaw. Many houses in the area remain abandoned as displaced families continue to live elsewhere due to ongoing insecurity.
“We already lost our homes once when we had to flee the fighting. Seeing an empty house burn down feels like losing a piece of our future,” a displaced Rohingya resident from Maung Ni told Rohingya Khobor.
Another resident said the destruction of abandoned homes is deepening the uncertainty faced by displaced families.
“Many families left with nothing but hope of returning one day. Every house that disappears makes that hope feel more distant,” the resident said.
According to local residents, only a small number of people remain in the area, while most Rohingya families have yet to return because of security concerns.
This is not the first fire reported in Maung Ni. On March 18, six empty houses belonging to displaced Rohingya families were also destroyed in a fire in the same area.
Residents have called for an investigation into the latest incident and urged authorities to take measures to prevent similar fires in the future.
