The number of internally displaced people (IDPs) has increased by more than 2,000 in Kyauktaw Township, Arakan State, due to fighting between the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army (AA), State Hluttaw member U Maung Maung told DMG.

A teenage boy and a woman living in Latwel Sardike village, Ponnagyun Township, were hit and injured by stray artillery shells as fighting flared near the village on March 11, locals said.

A total of 4,022 students in Arakan State were absent from the first day of matriculation exams on March 11, the Department of Myanmar Examinations said. That absentee rate of nearly 8.2% was nearly 2 percentage points higher than the national average, with education administrators citing conflict-related challenges as among the drivers of the attendance shortfall.

Two boys stepped on a landmine near Arkar Taung (Muslim) village in Rathedaung Township, Arakan State, on March 10, killing one and injuring the other, residents said.

An artillery shell landed in Aung Thar Yar village, Kyauktaw Township, on the evening of March 10, killing a woman and injuring seven others, residents said.

The Arakan Army has taken captive as many as 30 military personnel including a commanding officer, captains and soldiers of other ranks, the AA said in a statement.

The Technological University in Sittwe, Arakan State, held its annual Water Festival on March 10, with the pre-Thingyan celebration offering a welcome contrast to the conflict that has dominated regional headlines in recent months.

A demonstration against hate speech organized by the Colorful Women Organization was held at the beach in the Arakan State capital Sittwe on March 10. 

Two men detained by the Tatmadaw over the weekend in Arakan State’s Kyauktaw Township were released at about 9 a.m. on March 10.

One woman was killed and a man was injured when gunfire showered Long Shay village, Kyauktaw Township, on the morning of March 10, village administrator U Aung Mya Kyaw told DMG.

Buthidaung Township MP U Maung Kyaw Zan said he was targeted in the complaint because he told Reuters of how residents in Buthidaung Township’s Kin Taung (Muslim) village were killed by an artillery shell blast on January 25.

With intensifying conflict south of Chin State’s Paletwa Township in recent weeks, residents are reporting an increase in commodity prices of up to fourfold as supply lines face disruption.

Fighting broke out between the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army (AA) on March 8 near Mont Thanpyin village in Arakan State’s Kyauktaw Township, forcing more than 300 residents to flee their homes, local administrator U Sein Kyaw said.

The families of two men who were detained on March 8 near Khaung Tote village in Kyauktaw Township are concerned as they have not received any information about the pair since they were taken into custody.

An education staffer was shot near Kyauktan village in Sittwe Township, Arakan State, on March 8 and he is being provided medical treatment at Sittwe General Hospital as he suffered a severe abdominal wound, family members said.

The Arakan League for Democracy (ALD) has postponed a planned meet up of Arakanese political parties, which had been slated for March 8, after the Arakan Front Party (AFP) was a no-show on the weekend.

A clash occurred between the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army (AA) near Phar Pyo village in Minbya Township, Arakan State, at about 5 p.m. on March 9, injuring seven civilians and burning down about 10 houses, according to locals.  

Three people, including a 5-year-old child, from Butalone (Muslim) village were injured by gunfire due to fighting near Myaung Bway Bridge in Mrauk-U Township on March 8, according to residents.

Around 400 people, including monks, held a dialogue in Sittwe on March 7 focused on issues of public concern in Arakan State, with the results of the discussion to be submitted to the president.