Displaced Civilians from 70 Villages Across Three Townships Face Hardships After Fleeing Sittwe Fighting

Min Shin Saw

By Shin Nyein Aye, Narinjara, October 22, 2026

Intense fighting between the Arakan Army (AA) and the military junta in Sittwe Township, Arakan State, has forced residents from over 70 villages in the neighboring townships of Pauktaw (Wira Thani), Rathedaung, and Ponnagyun to flee their homes.

The displaced individuals are now facing critical shortages of food, clothing, and shelter.

Clashes between the military junta and the AA have steadily escalated since the junta launched "Operation 4926" on September 4, compelling a massive wave of local residents to seek safer ground.

For many, this marks the second time they have been displaced. Having initially fled during the battles for control of these towns between 2023 and 2024, they returned to their homes after the AA captured the areas. However, as fighting intensified near Sittwe in September, they were forced to flee once again.

Among the newly displaced are residents from more than 20 villages in southern Rathedaung Township, approximately 50 villages in southern Ponnagyun Township, and several villages in Pauktaw Township.

"The military situation around Sittwe has become extremely tense again," Daw Ma Yin Phyu, who fled Ponnagyun Township for the second time, told Narinjara. "The military junta has been conducting continuous airstrikes and heavy artillery shelling. After authorities issued warnings to move to safer areas, we had to flee for a second time.

Because we couldn't make proper preparations, we are facing severe difficulties securing food, clothing, and shelter."

U Kyaw Hla, another displaced resident from Ponnagyun Township, highlighted the impact on innocent civilians. "The military junta is launching airstrikes and heavy artillery attacks on civilian-populated areas. Because of these assaults, innocent people cannot stay in their home regions. We are struggling to meet basic needs and are dealing with severely overcrowded living conditions, with as many as three families forced to share a single household."

An official from a local humanitarian aid organization told Narinjara that grassroots charity groups are doing what they can to support the displaced, relying heavily on contributions from domestic and international donors.

"They are facing significant hardships regarding food, clothing, and shelter, often with three or four families sharing a single home," the official said. "As social welfare organizations, we are providing as much assistance as our resources allow."

The battle for Sittwe escalated sharply on October 19, when intense fighting broke out near the Shwe Min Gan Naval Base at the city's entrance. The clashes occurred as junta troops launched an offensive into AA-controlled territories.

As heavy artillery shells began landing within Sittwe city limits, and with fighting drawing closer to Kyar Ma Thauk, A-Myint Kyun, the Shwe Min Gan area, and the Regional Military Command (RMC) headquarters, a large number of local residents fled toward mainland Myanmar.

Reports indicate that after suffering heavy losses in the battle for Sittwe, the military junta has increasingly targeted nearby areas like Pauktaw. Continuous airstrikes and heavy artillery barrages on residential towns and villages across Ponnagyun and Rathedaung townships have resulted in high numbers of civilian casualties.

Photo: Displaced persons forced to flee once again due to the escalating conflict in Sittwe.