In May 2024, the AA intensified its attacks. It eventually killed hundreds of Rohingyas and injured several others in the Buthidaung town situated in the coastal Rakhine State. One of the most inhumane massacres, in which brutal killings were carried out, occurred in the village of Hoyaseri (Htan Shauk Kan), approximately three km away from the town, on May 2, 2024. Taking advantage of the current instability of the region, the armed ethnic group freely attacked Rohingya Muslims. In response to the violence in Buthidaung and the mass displacement of tens of thousands of civilian Rohingyas, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk expressed grave concern on 19 May. In his statement, he appealed directly to both the groups to halt the fighting, protect civilians, allow immediate and unhindered humanitarian access, and fully comply with international laws, including the provisional measures already ordered by the International Court of Justice for the protection of the Rohingya. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, through spokesperson Liz Throssell, further raised alarm over ‘frightening and disturbing reports’ of escalating violence. He recognised that civilians face deadly attacks and the destruction of their homes. Among the allegations, Volker Turk noted that they received reports of the killings of Rohingya civilians and the deliberate burning of their property. As a result, they urgently call for an immediate cessation of violence, the protection of all civilians, and requested that all parties adhere to international law, including the International Court of Justice’s binding orders to safeguard the Rohingya from further atrocities. During this wave of violence, the community faced a new persecution and mass displacement. Such acts of violence are perceived as an existential threat for the community. Most of the witnesses and reports suggest that both the Myanmar Junta and the AA share a common goal, which is the complete eradication of the Rohingya presence in Rakhine State. Their actions align with broader efforts to depopulate Rakhine State of Rohingya Muslims by forcing them to flee into neighboring countries, mostly into Bangladesh. 29