‘Nowhere to go’: Rohingya face arson attacks in Myanmar’s Rakhine State

Smoke billows from a group of houses set on fire over the weekend [Courtesy of Planet Labs PBC]

Fighting between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army (AA) has escalated in the western state of Rakhine in recent days, putting thousands of mostly Muslim Rohingya who live in the area at increased risk.

Based on interviews with Rohingya activists who have spoken to witnesses in Buthidaung, there have been huge fires across the town in the last few days. They accuse the Arakan Army of being behind the arson campaign, but the AA has rejected the allegations saying the fires were started by the Myanmar military in air attacks.