Arakan Army Imposes Night Curfew in Maungdaw, Residents Ordered to Build Bomb Shelters

Residents in Maungdaw Township say the Arakan Army has imposed a nightly curfew and ordered households to build bomb shelters amid concerns over possible airstrikes, creating additional hardship for families ahead of Eid al-Adha.

Photo Source: Maungdaw

Residents in Myanmar's Maungdaw Township say the Arakan Army has imposed a nighttime curfew and instructed households to construct bomb shelters amid fears of potential airstrikes in the area.

According to multiple residents, the restrictions apply across both northern and southern parts of the township. Under the new directive, people are required to remain indoors from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.

Local sources said the order was announced on May 22, with authorities also directing families to prepare shelters that could be used in the event of aerial attacks.

A resident from northern Maungdaw said the timing of the curfew has created difficulties for many families preparing for Eid al-Adha.

"The curfew was announced shortly before Eid," the resident told The Daily East. "People are worried because there are many things to arrange for the festival, but moving around has become more difficult."

Another resident said economic hardship is making it challenging for many households to comply with the shelter requirement.

"People are trying to follow the instructions, but many families do not have enough money or available space to build proper bomb shelters," the resident said. "It has become an additional burden on families that are already facing financial difficulties."

Residents also reported that enforcement of the curfew has so far remained limited due to the Eid holiday period.

"We have not yet seen strict action against people who are outside during curfew hours," another resident said. "But many believe enforcement could become stricter once the holiday period is over."

'𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬': 𝐀𝐫𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐫𝐦𝐲 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐨𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐲𝐚 𝐂𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐦𝐚𝐫

The new measures have added to the challenges facing local communities, with residents saying daily activities and preparations for the upcoming religious festival have been disrupted. Many families are now attempting to balance Eid preparations while adapting to the new security restrictions imposed across the township.