AA Extorts Food from Rohingya in Maungdaw

Maungdaw, Arakan State – The Arakan Army (AA), which has maintained full control over Maungdaw Township since December 8, 2024, has been engaging in coercive extortion and forced collection of food and money from Rohingya villagers, according to local sources.

In Nant Chaung village, northern Maungdaw, Rohingya residents are reportedly required to provide five bags of rice daily to the Arakan Army, along with additional financial contributions for market expenses. Residents, who lack stable sources of income, are struggling to meet these demands while facing threats and intimidation.

“We have no choice but to comply. If we fail to meet their demands, we are threatened with severe consequences, including forced eviction, arson, or arbitrary detention under false accusations,” said a resident of Nant Chaung village.

In addition to daily extortions, sources confirm that in the last week of February 2025, the AA demanded 200 blankets from the Rohingya residents of Nant Chaung village. The forced collection of resources has placed the community under extreme hardship, as they have no internal or external means of income.

On February 1, 2025, Rohingya residents of Gunnah Hamlet, within the Nant Chaung village tract, were forcibly evicted by the Arakan Army, accompanied by Rakhine individuals. According to eyewitnesses, their homes were looted, with personal belongings such as beds, solar panels, batteries, poultry, closets, stoves, dishes, and other household items taken. The houses were left abandoned following the evictions.

These reports highlight ongoing human rights violations against Rohingya communities in Maungdaw under AA control. The coercive extortion, forced evictions, and looting raise serious concerns about the humanitarian situation and the safety of Rohingya civilians in northern Arakan State.

Rohingya Vision News