Foreign aid workers were today preparing for evacuation from the Rakhine state capital of Sittwe after a mob attacked their living quarters and offices.





UN and other aid organisations' staff were taking shelter in sites around the city under the protection of security forces, after their offices and homes were attacked in the latest round of violence to hit the troubled region.

Residents told The Myanmar Times they had seen a gang armed with 'swords, knives and hammers' on the streets, as police confirmed at least 14 properties had been destroyed and witnessed reported a number of those had been looted.

Although a UN representative said no definite decision had been made to evacuate their own staff, they were helping other international organisations who wished to do so.

It is understood some aid organisations were looking at chartering a plane to evacuate their staff as regular flights were heavily booked due to it being the height of the tourist season.

Police said a curfew would be imposed on the city from 6pm this evening in an attempt to prevent further violence.

INGO staff have been an increasing target for Buddhist Rakhine hardliners who have accused foreign organisations of favouring the Mulsim Rohyingya population while delivering aid in the region. Tensions have been heightened recently by local anger over how ethnicity will be recorded in the forthcoming census, due to begin on March 30.

The latest round of violence to hit Rakhine, where more than 250 people have been killed in communal violence since 2012, began yesterday evening. A crowd of up to 300 people surrounded Malteser International's office amid reports that a woman had removed a Buddhist flag flying in front of the group's office, according to state spokesman U Win Myaing.





Sources said the traditional Buddhist flag is currently being displayed at the properties of those Rakhine who are supporting a boycott of the census, and had been put outside the Malteser office by an unknown person.

The protestors threw rocks and stones at the office and police who attended the scene fired shots in the air in an attempt to disperse the crowd. The Malteser office is situated in area close to other NGO offices and the mob went on to attack several other properties. Further attacks on properties continued today.

One local businessman told The Myanmar Times he said he had seen a gang of around 50 people on the streets earlier today. "They had swords, knives and hammers. It is very upsetting," he said

"They've destroyed everything, all the computers, chairs, tables. Everything is in pieces, some people are stealing things."

U Mg Khin Win, who runs a photography shop in Sittwe said,

"I saw an angry people group are going to the north of township by motorcycle today. I don't know where they were they going. This morning I saw four houses where INGO staff lived that had already been destroyed and since then I've heard of another ten."

A police spokesman told The Myanmar Times that the situation had "stabilised" by 4pm.

He added, "Today the police will impose a dusk-to-dawn curfew between 6 pm and 4am to prevent people burning the houses at tonight. We are not sure how many properties have been destroyed, but we can confirm at least 14 properties have been destroyed."

On February 28, international medical aid organization Medecins Sans Frontiers were told to cease operations in Rakhine, amid claims their presence could provoke violence from Rakhine hardliners who accused the group of favouring Rohingya muslims.

The move prompted warnings it could encourage extremists to target other INGOs operating in the region.

Additional reporting by Bill O'Toole.

