Junta drone attacks force Kyaukphyu villagers to flee

By Admin 31 Jan 2026

DMG Newsroom

31 January 2026, Kyaukphyu

Residents from nearly 10 coastal villages in Kyaukphyu Township, Arakan State, have been forced to flee their homes since early January due to the Myanmar military regime’s increased use of reconnaissance drones and aerial attacks.

Villagers from Kyaukpyauk, Wamyaung, Kyaukkalay, Zinchaung, Kin, Konbaung, Muywin, and Kalante are among those seeking safety.

“At least two junta drones are hovering constantly. We can even hear their engines. Most people no longer dare to stay in the village,” said a woman from Kyaukkalay Village.

While the exact number of displaced people is still being verified, local residents estimate that hundreds are now taking temporary shelter in orchards, farm huts, and other makeshift structures outside their villages.

Locals said the regime is launching drones from navy vessels stationed at sea, about four miles from the affected villages.

Although the villages are located between 10 and 15 miles from active frontline fighting, they have been targeted by heavy artillery, airstrikes, and drone operations.

“Attacks usually follow shortly after the drones scout the area. They use them for both reconnaissance and direct kamikaze style strikes on crowded areas,” said a man from Muywin Village.

On January 24, a junta drone strike on a site sheltering internally displaced people in Muywin Village killed two people and injured five others, including an infant.

Similarly, a drone attack on Zinchaung Village on January 22 wounded a man and a woman. On January 17, combined drone and naval artillery attacks on Kyaukkalay Village killed three displaced people and injured another.

“We cannot afford to be careless just because we are far from the actual fighting. The military regime is targeting and killing civilians indiscriminately,” another Kyaukkalay resident said.

According to data compiled by DMG, the regime targeted more than 10 villages in Kyaukphyu Township with heavy weaponry and airstrikes between February 20, 2025, and January 24, 2026, resulting in at least 135 casualties.

Of the total, 29 casualties were caused by drone attacks, 35 by heavy artillery, and 71 by aerial bombardment. The victims include 14 children under the age of 18.

In November, the Arakan Army warned Kyaukphyu residents to remain highly vigilant against airstrikes and deliberate attacks on civilians.