Guwahati, 26th December: In the aftermath of relentless junta shelling, tens of thousands have fled Mrauk-U, the ancient capital of Rakhine. The ongoing onslaught, initiated on Sunday, has tragically claimed the lives of at least three people and left a five-year-old girl severely injured.
As per local accounts, the 700-year-old town has been enduring continuous bombardment since the Arakan Army initiated attacks on a junta base and police station in the vicinity. The relentless shelling has taken its toll on six residential areas, including a displacement camp and the Mrauk-U archaeological museum, housing invaluable artifacts from the first Arakanese Kingdom.
The responsibility for the shelling is attributed to Junta Light Infantry Divisions 540, 377, and 378. On Monday, nearly 1,200 individuals were evacuated from the Myatasuang displacement camp in Mrauk-U, prompted by shell explosions in its compound and the nearby Sin Cha Seik village.
By Monday, the once vibrant town stood eerily deserted, with the sole audible sound being that of junta shell explosions, according to volunteers on the ground.
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