USIP releases report that Rohingya are being used as human shields

The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) has released a report that the Rohingya are helpless in northern Rakhine State and are being used as human shields during the fighting.

This was stated in a report released on May 8 after surveying the situation of the Rohingya in Rakhine State, including Maungdaw Township and Buthidaung Townships, where the current fighting is intense.

He said the Rohingya, who are facing general crises, including food security, are being forcibly recruited as soldiers and are being used as human shields on the front lines.

The Military Council Army and the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) are lobbying the Rohingya to fight for their religion, and the Rakhine Army (AA) is not to join the Military Council Army. The report states that he was asked to be alerted to report on the activities of the military council army.

It is said that some of those who were recruited as soldiers fled to Bangladesh, and Bangladesh is sending back those who fled. The report also states that hundreds of Rohingya have been seriously injured in recent months of fighting and have not received medical treatment due to the closure of hospitals.

USIP also pointed out that although the Rakhine Army (AA) side has the upper hand during the current fighting in Rakhine State, there is a possibility that the military council may intentionally create conflicts to destabilize the state.