Ko Aye Win, a local man from Sittwe who was sentenced to 30 years in prison in connection with a series of bomb blasts in the Arakan State capital in 2018, was released from Sittwe Prison on Wednesday morning.

Since early June, Bangladesh has suspended imports of all products from Myanmar except ginger and garlic.

“Farmers who have power tillers have started ploughing their farms. Those without power tillers still can’t start. We have to hire power tillers and it is costly.”

Local people along the upper reaches of the Laymyo River in Arakan State’s Mrauk-U Township and Chin State’s Paletwa Township are reportedly in need of assistance to repair their damaged homes.

More than 300 people from over 50 households in Jaithar Village were forced to relocate their homes by the military on September 28, as the houses were built on a plot of land that the Myanmar military claims ownership of.

Students in storm-hit townships are being taught in temporary classrooms, monasteries and homes, said U Ba Htwee Sein, the Arakan State education director.

Pact Myanmar Microfinance, which has provided loans to over 2.3 million Myanmar people, has announced its exit from the military-ruled country, saying new regulations adopted by the military regime have made it impossible to continue operations in the Southeast Asian nation.

Temporary shelters damaged by Cyclone Mocha have not been repaired yet, and pregnant women and lactating mothers in the IDP camps are facing accommodation difficulties.

Sharks are one of 577 totally protected species in Myanmar, according to a notice from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation.

“We didn’t have any ties with any organisation. We were unfairly arrested and jailed. Three years’ imprisonment was a huge blow to me and my family,” 

Internally displaced people (IDPs) from some displacement camps in northern Arakan State are facing accommodation difficulties as IDP camps have been flooded by incessant rains in recent days.

Representatives of the junta’s National Solidarity and Peace Negotiation Committee (NSPNC) and delegates from five members of the Peace Process Steering Committee (PPST) held the first of what is slated to be three days of peace talks in the Myanmar capital Nay Pyi Taw on Monday.

“We are facing difficulties buying paddy seeds. We have no paddy seeds to grow monsoon paddy.

“It has been more than one month since the market was closed. I have been facing hardships, and I decided to return to business today amid heavy rain,”

A traditional Hindu chariot festival known as Ratha Yatra is taking place over nine days in Arakan State’s Maungdaw, starting June 20 and ending on Wednesday.

Members of the affected population referred to a programme undertaken by the now ousted National League for Democracy (NLD) government.

“The students in our village don’t go to school for many days during the rainy season. When there is a flood, students do not go to school because they are afraid that their boats will sink.”

Local Muslims in Bu May Village, Sittwe Township, have expressed concerns for their safety as the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP) is reportedly planning to establish a base in the village.

Many people have been left to pawn or sell their gold items in townships where Cyclone Mocha caused widespread property damage.