New investigation reveals mass destruction across Rohingya homeland
New findings reveal villages erased, civilian displacement and escalating attacks as conflict intensifies in western Myanmar
NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar (MNTV) — At least 115 villages across Myanmar’s Arakan State have been partially or completely destroyed since the 2021 military coup, according to a new investigation that documented widespread devastation across areas heavily affected by fighting between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army.
The investigation by independent investigative outlet Bellingcat used satellite imagery, conflict data and field reporting to map destruction across several townships, including Buthidaung, Maungdaw, Sittwe, Ann and Kyaukpyu, with many affected communities previously home to Rohingya populations.
Among the most severe cases documented was Htan Shauk Khan village, also known as Hoyyar Siri, in Buthidaung Township, where survivors described mass killings during fighting in May 2024. Satellite imagery reviewed by investigators showed the village was almost completely destroyed following the violence.
Last month, Human Rights Watch reported that the Arakan Army may have killed at least 170 Rohingya civilians, including women and children, during the attack, describing the incident as a massacre. The armed group denied the allegations, saying those killed were fighters and military personnel.
Researchers found that at least 40 villages in Buthidaung alone were burned during intense fighting in April and May 2024.
The report also found that some communities destroyed during the 2017 military campaign against Rohingya civilians had rebuilt in subsequent years, only to face renewed destruction during recent fighting.
Investigators documented growing destruction around strategically important areas, including Sittwe — the state capital still controlled by Myanmar’s military — and Kyaukpyu, home to military installations and major Chinese infrastructure projects.
Conflict data analyzed during the investigation showed a sharp increase in military air and drone attacks, rising from 30 recorded incidents in 2023 to 461 during 2024 as fighting intensified.
The continuing conflict has triggered a worsening humanitarian crisis across Arakan State. United Nations data cited in the investigation estimated that nearly 500,000 people were internally displaced across the region by March 2026.
The report warned that continued fighting, expanding military operations and destruction of civilian settlements are likely to create further displacement while leaving already vulnerable communities facing an increasingly uncertain future.
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