MSF Urges Civilian Protection After Deadly Shelling in Myanmar's Sittwe

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has called on all warring parties in Rakhine State to protect civilians following a deadly attack in the state capital. An October 23 shelling in Sittwe killed at least two people and injured 17 others, with most casualties occurring at a busy downtown junction.

The medical aid group stated on October 24. MSF said its team in central Sittwe heard heavy, sustained shelling, gunfire, and aircraft overhead before learning of the casualties. One shell exploded at a central junction that residents use to navigate what MSF described as an “increasingly restricted enclave.”

Emergency responders transported the injured to Sittwe General Hospital, the town’s main referral center. MSF routinely supports this hospital by arranging transfers for patients from other parts of the state who require specialized care.

MSF described the attack as part of a broader pattern of violence across Rakhine State. The group pointed to September 28 airstrikes in central Rakhine that killed at least 50 people. The statement did not specify which armed group fired the shells.

Sittwe remains under the control of the Myanmar military junta. Meanwhile, the Arakan Army (AA)—an ethnic armed organization—has captured most of Rakhine State since late 2023. MSF suspended most of its regional operations in 2024 due to escalating clashes and now operates primarily in Sittwe.

“Civilians must be protected from conflict continuing to rage across Rakhine State,” said Paul Brockmann, MSF’s operations manager for Myanmar.

The organization, which has operated in Rakhine State for over 30 years, also demanded protection for medical staff and patients, alongside safe and unhindered access for humanitarian aid.