Kyaukphyu IDPs forced to flee again amid junta airstrikes and artillery attacks

By Admin 28 Feb 2026

DMG Newsroom

28 February 2026, Kyaukphyu

Residents of Kyaukphyu Township say internally displaced persons (IDPs) have been forced to relocate once again due to escalating airstrikes and heavy artillery attacks by Myanmar’s military regime, leaving thousands in urgent need of emergency assistance.

The regime has targeted villages near Meekyaung Yay Thauk and Mawgyi with heavy artillery, mortar fire and drone-assisted aerial bombardments, forcing villagers to flee from temporary shelters.

“They are shelling Meekyaung Yay Thauk Village with heavy artillery and drones. IDPs no longer feel safe and are forced to flee again, facing immense difficulties along the way,” said a local resident assisting displaced families.

There are currently more than 60,000 IDPs from about 40 villages across Kyaukphyu Township. They are sheltering in displacement camps, forests and other temporary locations, where they face severe shortages of food and medicine.

Displaced residents said they were already struggling with inadequate food and shelter before being uprooted again by the junta’s continued bombardment.

“We didn’t bring anything with us. Everything we had was destroyed in the fires. We have no clothes and nowhere to stay. We had to build makeshift tents with materials borrowed from others, but even those are not safe due to the constant shelling,” said a displaced woman from Ukin Village. “We didn’t even have money for transportation; we just ran to survive.”

Beyond the lack of shelter, many families are struggling to feed their children as food supplies dwindle.

Although some local humanitarian groups are providing assistance, aid remains far from sufficient given the scale of the crisis.

“Since we were displaced, life has been incredibly difficult. We lack basic shelter, and the number of people continues to grow. Many families have several children, and there simply isn’t enough food. The children are crying from hunger, and the situation is desperate,” another displaced woman said.

IDPs are urgently calling on humanitarian organizations to scale up emergency support.

Fighting in Kyaukphyu, southern Arakan State, began on 20 February 2024 and has now lasted for more than a year. Residents say they continue to live in fear as the military regime deploys naval vessels, aircraft and drones to strike the area.

Kyaukphyu Township is a strategic economic hub, hosting China-backed oil and gas pipelines, the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and a deep-sea port project, making it a key battleground between the military junta and the Arakan Army (AA).