Thandwe residents flee amid airstrikes, displacement fears grow

By Admin 02 Apr 2026

DMG Newsroom

2 April 2026, Thandwe

Residents of Thandwe are living in fear, with some fleeing to safer areas due to intense aerial bombardments and attacks by junta warships in Thandwe Township, an area controlled by the Arakan Army in Arakan State.

On April 1, the regime launched a coordinated assault using four jet fighters and warships from the sea near Light Infantry Battalion 55, located close to Ngapali Beach in Thandwe Township. The attack resulted in seven casualties among displaced residents, including children and a pregnant woman.

A local man in Thandwe said, "Some people from the Ngapali Beach area have already fled. We are also living in fear, wondering if they will come back to drop more bombs."

Although the Arakan Army seized full control of Thandwe in September 2024, many residents remain displaced due to the ongoing threat of airstrikes and other security concerns.

Following the recent aerial attacks, most residents are now too afraid to return to their homes.

Locals said that bombing civilians constitutes a blatant war crime and should never occur.

A displaced woman in Thandwe said, "There are still many people like us who have not been able to return home. Now that they are dropping bombs, it makes returning even more difficult. It is terrifying just to hear the news. There was no active fighting. They should absolutely not be bombing displaced people."

The Arakan Army has warned residents to remain extremely vigilant due to the increasing use of multiple jet fighters in ongoing attacks.

While the Arakan Army is carrying out reconstruction work in areas under its control in Arakan State, the continued threat of airstrikes remains a serious risk to civilians and their property.