Rohingya Dying Due to Malnutrition in Buthidaung

In Buthidaung, Arakan State, Rohingya detainees held in Buthidaung Prison are reportedly facing daily deaths due to malnutrition, oppression, and torture inflicted by Arakan Army (AA) troops. This information was revealed by Rohingya individuals who were released after being forced to work as laborers in the prison.

“Inside Buthidaung Prison, detainees are provided meals only every two days, leaving many to suffer from severe malnutrition,” witnesses who endured these dire conditions confirmed.

One former detainee described the situation: “We are fed only once every two days, and even then, there is no medical care for those in poor health. We are not allowed to meet with our families either.”

Reports from AA military sources indicate that there are at least ten detention facilities in Buthidaung Township where Rohingya are imprisoned, with Buthidaung Prison being the largest and most overcrowded.

Witnesses who had been inside the prison also reported instances of torture inflicted by AA security personnel. One laborer shared their experience: “I heard many cries of anguish from those who were beaten and deprived of food. Due to untreated injuries from beatings, people are dying every day. If someone dies, we laborers are forced to bury them. Some AA officials permit Islamic burial rites, while others do not.”

Despite the presence of a prison doctor and a medical facility, detainees reported that there was no medical treatment available during their time there. One laborer recounted a specific incident involving an elderly Rohingya man who was bleeding from his stomach but was denied access to a doctor: “We don’t know what happened to him after that.”

Those forced to work in Buthidaung Prison who managed to speak to News Agency provided further insights into the dire conditions faced by the Rohingya under AA control. It is estimated that around ten thousand Rohingya may be detained in Buthidaung Township alone, but no official statement from the AA has addressed the conditions or the situation of the detained Rohingya.

On May 30, a statement from the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA) mentioned that during intense battles with the military junta, nearly one hundred detainees, including thirty-one political prisoners from Buthidaung Prison, were rescued. The AA has maintained control over Buthidaung Township since last May and continues to hold authority in the area.

Rohingya Vision News