The medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has issued a warning about the urgent need to protect civilians caught up in escalating conflict in western Rakhine State, Myanmar. More Rohingya refugees are arriving in Bangladesh with war-related injuries amid increased fighting between the military and the Arakan Army (AA).
In a statement, MSF reported that its teams in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, treated 39 people for conflict-related injuries in just four days, with over 40% of the injured being women and children. The organization expressed concern about the impact of the conflict on Rohingya people, noting that safe spaces for civilians in Myanmar are shrinking and that many are forced to make dangerous journeys to seek safety in Bangladesh.
The Rohingya, a mostly Muslim ethnic minority group, have long faced discrimination and violence in Rakhine State. The situation worsened in 2017 when over 750,000 Rohingya fled to Bangladesh following a brutal crackdown by the Myanmar military. The recent escalation of fighting in Rakhine State has raised fears of a worsening humanitarian crisis.
MSF has called for immediate protection of civilians caught in the conflict, emphasizing the need for unhindered access to medical care and the safety of those seeking refuge in Bangladesh. The organization also highlighted reports of atrocities, including a drone attack near Maungdaw that killed dozens of people, including a pregnant woman and her young daughter. Both the military and AA have blamed each other for the attack.
The situation in Rakhine State remains dire, with MSF and other organizations warning of a deepening crisis and the need for urgent humanitarian action to protect vulnerable civilians.
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