Myanmar’s ethnic Muslim Rohingya minority are once again facing a brutal crackdown and violence, with recent reports detailing a horrifying surge in violence that is pushing the community to the brink of survival. Human rights organizations have raised alarms that Rohingya face their most severe threats since 2017, as the Myanmar military and the ethnic Arakan Army engage in mass killings, arson, and forced recruitment targeting the Muslim community in the country’s restive Rakhine State.
The escalation in the violence has further forced thousands of Rohingya to flee from their homes and escape on dangerous boat journeys after being targeted by armed rebels. Reports suggest that Rohingya civilians, particularly children, were being targeted or caught in the crossfire, resulting in deaths and severe injuries. At the same time, humanitarian access in Rakhine has become extremely challenging with critical services being jeopardized, exacerbated by electricity, telecommunications and internet blackouts since January.
Renewed Military Offensives: A Pattern of Brutality
According to Human Rights Watch, nearly 200 people were killed on August 5 following drone strikes and shelling targeting civilians fleeing violence in Maungdaw, a town near the Bangladesh border.
As the Arakan Army rapidly expands its control across Rakhine State, Myanmar’s military has responded with indiscriminate attacks on civilians, deploying helicopter gunships, artillery, and ground forces. In late April, the Arakan Army launched assaults on Rohingya villages in Buthidaung, leading to the capture of the town on May 17. During this operation, Arakan Army forces reportedly shelled, looted, and burned Rohingya neighborhoods.
The conflict has since shifted westward to Maungdaw, intensifying abuses and displacing more civilians. Incidents of arson and looting have been reported. Four videos shared on X (formerly Twitter) on August 6 show dozens of bodies, including men, women, and children, from the August 5 attacks. Rohingya witnesses told HRW they believe the Arakan Army was responsible, though both the junta and the Arakan Army have blamed each other for the atrocities.
“Rohingya in Rakhine State are enduring abuses tragically reminiscent of the military’s atrocities in 2017,” said Elaine Pearson, Asia Director at Human Rights Watch. “Once again, armed forces are driving thousands of Rohingya from their homes through killings and arson, leaving them with nowhere safe to turn.” About 630,000 Rohingya remain in Myanmar, trapped under a system of apartheid that leaves them exceptionally vulnerable to renewed violence.
Amnesty International also highlighted that Rohingya civilians are caught in the middle of intensifying conflict between the Arakan Army and the Myanmar military, which has forcefully conscripted Rohingya to fight on its side. The military, it said, has responded to battlefield losses with devastating aerial attacks that have killed Rohingya as well as ethnic Rakhine civilians. “They have targeted civilian areas, destroying homes, marketplaces and other civilian infrastructure,” Amnesty International said.
Amidst the escalating violence, the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM), established by the United Nation in 2018, further urged an end to the “cycle of impunity” surrounding crimes committed against the Rohingya minority.
Escalation in Broader Conflict
The situation in Rakhine State cannot be viewed in isolation. Myanmar’s internal conflicts have been escalating, with fighting between the Tatmadaw and various ethnic armed groups intensifying across the country. The BBC reports that the conflict in Rakhine is part of a broader civil war that has engulfed much of Myanmar since the military coup in 2021. This larger conflict has created a complex and dangerous environment, where the Rohingya and other ethnic minorities are increasingly caught in the crossfire.
The New Humanitarian highlights the severe humanitarian consequences of this conflict, noting that the Rohingya are not only victims of direct military attacks but are also suffering due to the broader destabilization of the region. The ongoing fighting has disrupted supply lines, leading to food shortages and limited access to medical care. As the conflict drags on, the humanitarian crisis deepens, with the Rohingya bearing the brunt of the violence.
Rohingya’s Desperate Plight
For the Rohingya who remain in Rakhine State, the situation is increasingly desperate. With nowhere to go and no means of protection, many are trapped in a cycle of violence and displacement. The camps were displaced Rohingya have sought refuge are overcrowded and severely lacking in basic necessities such as food, clean water, and medical care. These camps, rather than being safe havens, have become prisons of poverty and despair.
Al Jazeera has reported on the dire conditions within these camps, where fear and uncertainty dominate daily life. The Rohingya who reside here are effectively cut off from the outside world, with limited access to humanitarian aid due to restrictions imposed by the Myanmar government. The lack of international access and oversight has only exacerbated the suffering, as the military continues to operate with impunity.
The arson attacks that have ravaged Rohingya villages, leaving entire communities homeless and vulnerable. These attacks are not isolated incidents but are part of a calculated strategy to force the Rohingya out of their ancestral lands. The destruction of homes and livelihoods is a clear attempt to render the Rohingya helpless, making it impossible for them to remain in the region.
Condemnation Without Consequence
While the international community has repeatedly condemned the violence against the Rohingya, there has been little in the way of effective action to stop the atrocities. Various governments and international organizations, including the United Nations, have called on Myanmar’s military to cease its operations and respect the rights of the Rohingya. However, these appeals have largely fallen on deaf ears, with the Tatmadaw continuing its campaign of terror with little fear of repercussions.
VOA News has detailed the failure of international diplomacy in addressing the Rohingya crisis. Despite strong statements of condemnation and the imposition of some sanctions on Myanmar’s military leaders, the global response has been insufficient to halt the violence or bring about meaningful change. The military’s ability to carry out such widespread abuses with impunity has raised serious concerns about the effectiveness of international law and the mechanisms meant to protect vulnerable populations.
The situation is further complicated by the geopolitical interests at play in the region. Myanmar’s strategic importance and its relationships with powerful neighbors, including China and India, have made it difficult to build a unified international front against the military’s actions. This lack of concerted pressure has allowed the Tatmadaw to continue its operations with little regard for the consequences.
Eyewitness Accounts: Voices from the Ground
Firsthand accounts from the region paint a harrowing picture of life for the Rohingya in Rakhine State. Survivors of military raids describe scenes of chaos and terror, where soldiers enter villages, setting fire to homes and shooting indiscriminately at those who try to flee. The brutality of these attacks has left deep psychological scars on the survivors, many of whom have lost family members, homes, and any sense of security.
One survivor, interviewed by Al Jazeera, recounted how her village was attacked in the middle of the night. “We woke up to the sound of gunfire and saw our neighbors’ homes burning. We had no choice but to run into the forest, leaving everything behind,” she said. Such stories are common among the Rohingya, who have endured decades of persecution and violence at the hands of the Myanmar military.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has begun preliminary investigations into the alleged crimes against the Rohingya, but progress has been slow. The complexity of the situation, coupled with Myanmar’s refusal to cooperate with international investigations, has made it difficult to pursue justice.
