By Hafizur Rahman
May 30, 2026
A new investigation by Bellingcat has found that at least 115 villages across Arakan State have been partially or completely destroyed since the Myanmar military coup in February 2021, highlighting the devastating impact of the conflict on civilian communities.
Using satellite imagery, conflict data, and field reporting, the investigation documented widespread destruction across several townships, including Buthidaung, Maungdaw, Ann, Sittwe, and Kyaukpyu.
According to the report, many of the affected villages were home to Rohingya communities as well as other ethnic groups living in Arakan State.
Researchers said the findings reveal a pattern of violence that has displaced entire communities, destroyed homes, and erased villages from the landscape.
Destruction in Buthidaung
One of the most serious incidents highlighted in the investigation occurred in Htan Shauk Khan village, also known as Hoyyar Siri, in Buthidaung Township.
According to survivors cited in the report, the village came under attack on May 2, 2024, during intense fighting in the area. Witnesses described mass killings and widespread violence, with one survivor reportedly describing the aftermath as a “river of blood.”
Earlier this month, Human Rights Watch reported that the Arakan Army may have killed at least 170 Rohingya civilians, including women and children, during the attack. Human Rights Watch described the incident as a massacre.
The Arakan Army has denied the allegations and said those killed were members of armed groups and military personnel rather than civilians.
Satellite imagery reviewed by investigators showed that Hoyyar Siri was almost entirely destroyed following the attack.
The report also found that at least 40 villages in Buthidaung Township were burned during April and May 2024 as fighting intensified between the Myanmar Junta and the Arakan Army.
Villages Destroyed Again After Rebuilding
The investigation found that several villages destroyed during the 2017 Rohingya genocide were rebuilt by residents in the years that followed, only to suffer renewed destruction during fighting in 2024.
Among the affected communities were Zu La and Gone Nar villages in Maungdaw Township.
Satellite imagery showed that both villages were burned during the 2017 military operations against the Rohingya population. Although residents later rebuilt their homes, fresh attacks in 2024 caused additional destruction.
Researchers noted that some villages no longer appear on recent maps.
Steve Ross told Bellingcat that the disappearance of villages from official maps reflects broader processes contributing to the erasure of Rohingya identity and communities in Arakan State.
Conflict Expands Across Arakan
The investigation documented extensive destruction in several areas where fighting between the Myanmar Junta and the Arakan Army intensified.
In Ann Township, villages including Pyaung Chaung, Yat Thar Ywar Thit, and Pyaung Thay suffered significant damage during military operations in late 2024.
Satellite imagery showed large sections of villages burned or destroyed after clashes in the area, forcing many residents to flee.
Researchers suggested that some attacks may have been intended to prevent territory from falling fully under Arakan Army control.
Sittwe Emerges as a Key Frontline
The report identified Sittwe, the capital of Arakan State, as one of the most strategically important areas in the conflict.
Although much of Arakan is now under Arakan Army control, Sittwe remains under the control of the Myanmar Junta.
According to the investigation, at least 13 villages near military positions outside Sittwe were destroyed or heavily damaged between 2024 and 2025.
Satellite imagery also revealed trenches, military outposts, and defensive structures around several villages. In some areas, villages appeared to have been replaced entirely by military fortifications.
Analysts said the defenses were likely intended to slow any future advance toward the state capital.
Destruction Near Kyaukpyu
The investigation also identified at least 10 villages in Kyaukpyu Township that have been partially or completely destroyed since fighting escalated in early 2025.
Kyaukpyu remains strategically important because it hosts a naval base and major Chinese infrastructure projects.
Many of the damaged villages were located near military facilities.
Satellite imagery showed fires, damaged buildings, and signs of conflict in villages near the naval base, including Say Maw and Saing Chon Dwein.
Researchers said both the military and the Arakan Army view the area as strategically significant, increasing risks for civilians living nearby.
Sharp Rise in Airstrikes
According to conflict data analyzed by Bellingcat, military airstrikes and drone attacks increased dramatically after the Arakan Army resumed major operations against the Myanmar military in late 2023.
The report found that recorded air and drone strikes rose from 30 incidents in 2023 to 461 incidents in 2024.
Many of the attacks occurred in areas experiencing intense fighting.
Researchers said later attacks became increasingly concentrated in contested townships, particularly Sittwe and Kyaukpyu.
Growing Humanitarian Crisis
The continuing conflict has displaced hundreds of thousands of people across Arakan State.
According to United Nations data cited in the report, nearly 500,000 people were internally displaced across Arakan as of March 2026.
Many families have lost homes, farmland, and livelihoods, while humanitarian access remains severely restricted in many conflict-affected areas.
The report also noted that approximately one million Rohingya refugees continue to live in refugee camps in Bangladesh after fleeing previous waves of violence.
Researchers warned that continued fighting is likely to cause further displacement and humanitarian suffering if a political solution is not achieved.
An Uncertain Future
The Arakan Army has stated that it aims to take full control of Arakan State by 2027. Military authority has already weakened across much of the state, with only a limited number of townships remaining under junta administration.
However, analysts interviewed by Bellingcat argued that neither side can achieve lasting stability without addressing the humanitarian consequences of the conflict.
Large numbers of civilians remain displaced, villages continue to be destroyed, and many residents remain unable to return home.
For Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and displaced communities inside Myanmar, the future remains uncertain as the conflict continues across Arakan State.
This article is based on an investigation by Bellingcat researchers Pooja Chaudhuri and Miguel Ramalho, published on May 27, 2026. https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/05/27/the-lost-villages-of-myanmars-rakhine/
