By: Camp Correspondent
Maungdaw, May 15, 2025 —
Close to 300 Rohingya homes have been reduced to ashes in Maungdaw town, as violent clashes between the Arakan Army (AA) and Myanmar’s military junta forces continue to devastate the region. The destruction, spanning months, has left thousands displaced once again—many with no homes, no belongings, and no safe refuge.
Since July 2024, the Arakan Army intensified its offensive to seize full control of Maungdaw. While both military forces and AA have exchanged fire, it is the Rohingya civilian population that has borne the brunt—caught between drone strikes, air raids, and waves of looting.
“When we returned to Kanyintan ward after months, our homes were completely emptied,” said a Rohingya returnee.
“The AA took everything—furniture, kitchen tools, even the doors and electric meters. It was like we never lived there.”
Another resident described how drone attacks had burned down ten homes in his area:
“Nothing remains. We didn’t even get to take our Qurans. We lost our homes, our history.”
On December 8, 2024, the Arakan Army officially took full control of Maungdaw. While some displaced residents were later allowed to return, many Rohingya returnees found their homes either completely destroyed by fire or stripped bare. In several cases, AA forces reportedly accused Rohingya of collaborating with the junta and seized properties outright.
Meanwhile, airstrikes by Myanmar’s military also targeted Rohingya-majority villages, igniting further blazes. In areas like CSI Ward, BAJ Ward, Zula village, and others, dozens of homes have been burned—some by direct shelling, others in the aftermath of drone assaults.
Between August and December 2024, reports documented widespread destruction:
- In Zula village, 64 homes were completely destroyed.
- Neighboring villages experienced similar attacks, with shelling setting fire to homes and livestock shelters.
As a result, thousands of Rohingya have again been displaced, many of them now moving toward the Bangladesh border, hoping to escape the cycle of war, accusation, and erasure.
“We keep rebuilding, and they keep burning,” said one Rohingya elder. “We no longer dream of peace—we just want a safe place to sleep.”
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