By Hafizur Rahman
August 1, 2025
Rohingya communities across western Myanmar’s Arakan State are raising alarm over a growing humanitarian crisis marked not by direct fighting, but by systematic coercion, starvation, and forced displacement under the rule of the Arakan Army (AA).
Residents say that as the AA tightens its grip on the region—now reportedly controlling nearly 90% of Arakan—conditions for the Rohingya have become unlivable, triggering what many fear may soon be a mass depopulation of historically Rohingya villages.
“Most of us are starving,” said a Rohingya villager from Buthidaung, speaking anonymously for safety. “We are being forced to pay 50,000 kyat every month for armed guard duties that we never agreed to. If we don’t pay, we are punished. People are begging just to eat.”
Entire Villages Abandoned
Multiple villages—including Da Phyu Chaung, Ywet Nyo Taung, and Tha Yet Kin Man Nu, have reportedly been emptied, despite the absence of active clashes or military offensives in these areas. Residents describe a slow, suffocating exodus as livelihoods disappear and fear becomes normalized.
“In my village, there were once about 100 households,” said one displaced father. “Now fewer than 50 remain. Families are fleeing because life under the AA has become impossible. If this continues, there will be no one left in Arakan.”
Many of the displaced are now trapped in makeshift shelters, unable to return home due to ongoing threats, surveillance, and extortion.
Living Under Siege
The Arakan Army, once seen by some ethnic communities as a force resisting Myanmar’s military regime, has increasingly come under fire for persecuting the Rohingya minority through checkpoints, property seizures, restricted movement, and forced evictions.
“We are not allowed to move freely,” said another resident. “Our homes are taken on false accusations, every road is blocked by armed men, and we live in constant fear. We don’t know what will happen tomorrow.”
“Not War—Just Starvation and Control”
Community leaders emphasize that this is not simply a conflict-driven displacement, but a deliberate policy of marginalization. With no access to work, aid, or basic rights, Rohingya families are being pushed out of their homes and history.
“This is not just war anymore,” said a Rohingya elder from Maungdaw. “This is strangulation. We are being erased—not by bullets, but by hunger, fear, and silence.”
A Humanitarian and Political Emergency
Observers warn that the international community’s failure to intervene is allowing the Arakan Army to consolidate power at the expense of already-persecuted Rohingya communities. Humanitarian access remains heavily restricted, and those who speak out risk detention or retaliation.
Unless urgent action is taken, entire stretches of northern Arakan may soon be emptied of Rohingya, marking yet another chapter in Myanmar’s long-running campaign of erasure and displacement.
Recent Comments