Regime bans food supplies to three Mindon villages

By Admin 20 May 2026

DMG Newsroom

20 May 2026, Mindon, Magway Region

Sources familiar with the ground situation said the regime has blocked the transport of goods and food supplies in recent days to Thaphanyaung, Pyaung and Htanpingon villages in Mindon Township, Magway Region, which border the Arakan mountain range.

The villages are adjacent to the Arakan mountain range in Taungup Township, and regime forces have established a base and stationed troops there since May 11, prohibiting local residents from transporting food supplies.

Regime forces have also restricted locals’ freedom of movement, allowing residents to travel only with permission, causing significant hardship for the local population.

“Right now, if villagers want to go outside, they are only allowed to leave via the paths designated by the regime forces and only when they have permission. They restrict goods and food supplies on one hand, and limit movement on the other. The regime forces have imposed so many restrictions,” a local man said.

Regime troops stationed themselves in Pyaung Village more than a week ago and blocked the road to Thaphanyaung Village on the northern side, resulting in a complete halt to trade and commercial activities.

Due to the regime’s restrictions and blockades, most young people and local residents from the villages have fled to other regions, leaving mainly elderly residents behind.

“Locals are no longer allowed to transport anything, starting from food supplies and rice. People can no longer come and go as the regime forces have completely blocked the routes. They have set it up in a way that locals cannot go outside from within. This is especially being done in Thaphanyaung Village. In Pyaung Village, there are barely any people left,” another man familiar with the ground situation said.

In January, the regime launched military operations into six villages in western Mindon Township and burned them down, forcing thousands of residents to flee.

Sources said regime forces gathered the remaining elderly residents in the villages, held meetings, and formed negotiation and relations committees.

On March 1, 2026, the regime carried out an airstrike on Pyaung Village, killing at least 25 people, including Arakanese traders and local travelers, and injuring more than 20 others.

On May 12, regime forces advanced into Thaphanyaung Village and arrested two people, including a migrant worker from Arakan State, before releasing them two days later.

Clashes have been occurring in Magway, Bago and Ayeyarwady regions bordering Arakan State, while the regime has been cutting off trade routes to Arakan State.

The regime is deploying large numbers of troops to launch offensives aimed at recapturing territories it has lost along the Arakan State border.