Hoyyar Siri massacre: Rohingya survivors recount deadly attack in Rakhine
Survivors who later escaped to Bangladesh described burned homes, scattered bodies, and the loss of entire families during the attack, which reportedly killed at least 170 people
A recent report by Human Rights Watch has detailed the massacre of Rohingya civilians in Myanmar's Rakhine State in May 2024, accusing the Arakan Army of opening fire on villagers fleeing violence in Hoyyar Siri.
Survivors who later escaped to Bangladesh described burned homes, scattered bodies, and the loss of entire families during the attack, which reportedly killed at least 170 people, including dozens of children.
In July 2024, Omar Ahmod and other Rohingya villagers secretly returned to their deserted village of Hoyyar Siri in Myanmar's Rakhine State, two months after surviving a massacre allegedly carried out by the Arakan Army, an ethnic Rakhine armed group.
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They found their homes looted and burned, along with the remains of relatives and neighbours, according to a report by Human Rights Watch.
Research by Human Rights Watch found that on 2 May 2024, the Arakan Army may have killed at least 170 Rohingya civilians, including women and children, in Hoyyar Siri village in Buthidaung township, while hundreds more were likely injured or killed.
Fighters reportedly opened fire on civilians fleeing clashes between the Arakan Army and Myanmar military forces nearby, the report said.
The killings only came to light over a year later, after survivors reached the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. The United League of Arakan, the Arakan Army's political wing, denied responsibility and said its fighters followed international humanitarian law.
However, Human Rights Watch said witness testimonies, satellite imagery, photos, and videos analysed by researchers contradicted those claims.
The rights group said the Myanmar military failed to adequately protect civilians, while the Arakan Army committed serious abuses amounting to possible war crimes, including deliberate attacks on civilians, murder, torture, looting, arson, unlawful detention, and denial of medical care, according to the report.
Hoyyar Siri was caught between two Myanmar military bases during the escalating conflict in Rakhine State.
In April 2024, many displaced Rohingya sought refuge there, believing the village would remain safe. At the same time, the Myanmar military reportedly forced Rohingya men to join its fight against the Arakan Army, increasing fears among residents, the report said.
On the morning of 2 May, after the Arakan Army captured a nearby military camp, thousands of villagers fled towards Buthidaung town carrying white flags.
Survivors said Arakan Army fighters suddenly appeared from several directions and opened fire without warning near a hill called Toinna Mura.
Witnesses described panic, bodies scattered across roads and fields, and families being wiped out within moments.
Human Rights Watch identified more than 170 villagers killed or missing, including at least 90 children, though Rohingya activists believe the death toll could be as high as 500, the report added.
After the massacre, many survivors were detained by Arakan Army fighters, robbed, or forced into camps where they still face restrictions, forced labour, and shortages of food and medical care.
Satellite imagery analysed by Human Rights Watch showed Hoyyar Siri was burned down and remains uninhabitable.
Human Rights Watch said conditions do not currently exist for the safe return of Rohingya refugees to Rakhine State and urged the international community to press both the Myanmar junta and the Arakan Army to end abuses and allow humanitarian access, according to the report.
