Thousands of Rohingya civilians in Arakan State are facing an increasing danger as military operations intensify in the city of “Sittwe” between the Buddhist “Arakan Army” and the Myanmar military.
The “International Crisis Group” warned in its latest report published on its official website that the population in Arakan is trapped in a “deadly trap” due to apartheid policies and severe movement restrictions.
The group confirmed that local residents fleeing the clash zones is “almost impossible,” amid reports of women and children being targeted during displacement attempts.
It pointed to the exacerbation of the humanitarian tragedy with the imminent collapse of livelihoods and shortages of food and medicine, resulting from security restrictions hindering the arrival of international aid.
The International Crisis Group reported that the current offensive by the Buddhist “Arakan Army” represents an attempt to decisively control “Sittwe,” the regime’s last stronghold in the west, which could grant it “unprecedented” negotiating power and alter the conflict map in Myanmar.
Meanwhile, those fleeing Arakan are forced to risk falling into the hands of “human trafficking” networks, deepening a crisis rooted in decades of ethnic conflict that erupted in 2012, before turning into a comprehensive military confrontation between the two warring parties at the beginning of 2026.
The Buddhist “Arakan Army” is considered one of the strongest armed rebel factions in Myanmar, seeking to wrest autonomy for the residents of Arakan State.
The turning point began in November 2023, when the “Buddhist Army” launched a large-scale military campaign against the Myanmar military, during which it managed to seize control of about 14 out of 17 towns in the state, leading to the recession of the Myanmar military’s influence in vital centers like the city of “Sittwe.”
