418 schools closed in Myanmar due to terrorist attacks

FILE: Flag of Myanmar/Burma (Open Clip Art, CC0)

YANGON — A total of 418 schools in three townships in Myanmar’s northern Rakhine state have been closed as Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) extremist terrorists continued their attacks, the official Global New Light of Myanmar reported Monday.

Of the schools closed, 183 are from Maungtaw town, 212 from Buthidaung town and 23 from Yathedaung town, the Rakhine State Education Department was quoted as saying.

More than 80,000 students had enrolled in the Maungtaw district this academic year that started from June.

Extremists launched renewed attacks on 30 police outposts in the northern Rakhine on Aug. 25.

According to reports, from Aug. 25 to 31, more than 52 attacks by the extremist terrorists occurred, killing 13 security force members and injuring 15.

Meanwhile, 14 civilians including seven Hindu people and five Daingnet ethnic people were also killed while fleeing the attacks.

More than 2,625 houses from villages in Maungtaw were also set ablaze by terrorists.

A total of 370 dead bodies of the terrorists were reported.

About 38,000 Muslims from Rakhine state have fled toward the Bangladesh border, according to the reports.

Amid threat by ARSA extremist terrorists, the security forces have evacuated 11,720 ethnic villagers to safer places and provided them with aid, the military said, adding that clearance operations against ARSA extremist terrorists continue in the region. (Xinhua)