Written By Khine Zaw

Thousands of civilians are still trapped inside Sittwe city, which is controlled by the military council that forcibly gathered and confined them there.

Residents of Sittwe report that these civilians are now facing starvation due to skyrocketing commodity prices, lack of job opportunities, and the absence of humanitarian aid.

The military council, having set up the State Government Office and the Regional Operations Command headquarters in Sittwe, has shut down all entry and exit routes to the city where government officials reside.

Since November 2023, when the Arakan decisive battle began, the military junta has closed off all land and water routes.

Only the air route between Sittwe and Yangon has been kept open, while all land and sea routes have been strictly blocked.

In the early stages, some civilians from Sittwe and nearby villages were able to secretly escape to areas controlled by the Arakan Army, but now, residents say, it has become completely impossible to leave the city.

“There is no longer even a single escape route. Everywhere is filled with landmines, junta soldiers (referred to as ‘dogs’), and members of the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP),” a resident from Sittwe told Border News Agency.

The military council’s forces have not only confined civilians inside Sittwe town, barring them from leaving, but have also forcibly relocated civilians from all nearby villages into the city. Meanwhile, junta troops have set up military camps in those emptied villages.

In addition, local residents report that junta troops, collaborating with Muslim businessmen, are demolishing houses in the villages and selling off the materials.

“There’s nothing left in the whole village.Only about ten houses remain. The junta troops destroyed everything. Our house is gone too. We had built it little by little with what little we had. They have destroyed entire villages like that,” a woman from Sittwe Township told Border News Agency.

Residents of Sittwe report that civilians from nearby villages were forcibly relocated into Sittwe city without their consent and are now trapped there, with around 30,000 people sheltering in monasteries across the city.

These over 30,000 displaced people have been taking refuge in monasteries throughout Sittwe. Previously, they received monthly assistance from the World Food Programme (WFP).

However, displaced people say that after the WFP suspended its support, they have been left with almost no aid at all.

However, displaced people say that after the WFP cut off its assistance, they have been left with almost no aid at all.

“If we eat breakfast, we have to skip dinner. If we eat dinner, we have to skip breakfast. That’s how we are surviving,” a displaced woman from Sittwe told Border News Agency.

In addition, residents say that since the fighting began, Sittwe has been without electricity, and the prices of firewood and charcoal have soared. Families now have to spend up to 3,000 kyats just to buy enough firewood to cook a single meal.

“A single day’s firewood costs about 5,000 to 6,000 kyats. With no more humanitarian aid, we are just starving,” a displaced person from Sittwe told Border News Agency.

In addition, those trapped inside Sittwe city report that the price of a bag of rough rice has risen to around 150,000 kyats, while a bag of high-grade Paw San Hmwe rice costs over 200,000 kyats. A viss (about 1.6 kg) of fresh fish now costs between 30,000 and 120,000 kyats, a viss of pork costs around 70,000 kyats, one liter of cooking oil costs over 10,000 kyats, a viss of dried chilies costs 30,000 kyats, a single egg costs 1,000 kyats, and a liter of gasoline is priced at up to 20,000 kyats.

In Sittwe capital, which remains almost entirely under the control of junta forces, many new military camps and checkpoints have been set up. Residents report that it is impossible to cross the security gates at the entrances to the town or the Sat Roe Kya Bridge leading toward the villages.

“You can’t even step slightly outside the town. You’re not even allowed near the Sat Roe Kya Bridge,” a young man from Sittwe told Border News Agency.

Additionally, displaced people say that junta troops regularly come to inspect those sheltering in monasteries, carrying out searches at least once a month.

“They come in groups by vehicles and conduct harsh, aggressive inspections,” said a woman who has been sheltering in Sittwe town after fleeing from Kyae Taw Ywama village.

The Arakan Army (AA) has established positions in areas around Wabo Island and villages near the border between Sittwe and Ponnakyun townships, about five miles from Sittwe city. Ground clashes between the two sides occur frequently in these areas.

In addition, residents of Sittwe and surrounding areas report that heavy artillery exchanges between the two sides occur almost daily.

“Right now, the Arakan Army has reached areas near the city. In some villages, the junta troops (referred to as ‘dogs’) who had set up camps have already retreated from their positions,” a local news source said.

In the ongoing Arakan final battle, the Arakan Army has gained control over 15 townships, including the Paletwa region, and is now functioning as the governing authority under the People’s Government of Arakan.

The Arakan Army has explicitly stated in their announcements that they plan to fully capture the entire Arakan region, and experts speculate that they may launch an all-out assault on the capital city, Sittwe, in the near future.

If such a battle breaks out, residents who are currently trapped inside the city may suffer significant casualties, according to the people of Arakan.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Arakan Army (AA), General Twan Mrat Naing, has warned the residents of Sittwe to escape towards liberated areas, as a full-scale battle for the liberation of the nation is underway. He made this statement in his speech on April 10, 2024, during the Army’s founding day celebrations.

However, the residents from nearby villages around Sittwe, who have been sheltering in Buddhist monasteries within the city, along with the impoverished town residents, have not been able to escape in time due to financial difficulties, according to local residents.

“To escape, we would need to pay more than 1000,000 kyats for a motorized boat, but we don’t have that money. There’s no work, and we can’t even afford food. That’s why we haven’t fled. Some people who could have escaped didn’t, and we don’t know if it’s because they don’t believe the fighting will reach here or for some other reason. We want to escape, but we can’t because we don’t have the money,” said a man from the Minggan quarter of Sittwe to the Border News Agency.

In Sittwe town, where civilians are at risk of sudden military attacks at any time, the junta has not only confined the residents but has also blocked government employees from leaving the town. They have restricted employees from traveling to other parts of Myanmar and even blocked flights, according to the employees.

“Even to go to the hospital, we are not allowed to leave. Those who fled to Yangon have been threatened and called back, with warnings to return,” said an education officer working under the junta in Sittwe.

In such a situation, if the Arakan Army’s attacks reach Sittwe, it is certain that there will be significant harm to civilians, according to the international community.

However, the civilians who are trapped inside the city say that they are more afraid of the current dire situation they are facing than the potential harm from the conflict.

“We are more afraid of starving than the fighting,” said a woman from Shwe Min Gan village in Sittwe Township.

The fact that the military junta has trapped both civilians and staff within Sittwe city is criticized as the junta using civilians as human shields to protect itself in the event of conflict.

This has been pointed out as a violation of international humanitarian law and is considered a war crime, as highlighted by human rights advocates.