Days of heavy rain in Arakan State has left the Mrauk U-Sittwe Highway flooded and created transportation difficulties for residents. 

Flooding in Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U and Minbya townships in Arakan State has affected many communities and forced over 9,500 people to leave their homes, according to government officials.

A three-mile-long river bank between Zin Chaung and Kyauk Kalat villages is suffering from severe erosion, said Arakan State Hluttaw member U Phoe San. 

More than 2,500 people from Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U and Minbya townships have been forced to leave their homes to escape flooding, U Ye Min Oo, a staff officer of the State Natural Disaster Management, told DMG on July 13. 

“We cannot get and transmit information similar to 2015 when flooding occurred. I think we will have to tell to each individual how we provide aid and our travel itineraries by using only a mobile phone,” he said.

About 3000 refugees from Tin Nyo IDP camp in Mrauk-U Township have been affected by  flood while they live in squalor and lack health care and educational service, according the officials from the camp.

An investigation is going to be set up as of 12 July in order to find out the truth about the deaths of detained villagers in custody while the Tatmadaw was questioning them under suspicion of involvement with the Arakan Army, the Tatmadaw True News Information Team said.  

The UN special envoy to Myanmar Ms. Christine Schraner Burgener met the Arakan State cabinet on 12 July and discussed the ongoing armed conflicts between the Tatmadaw and the AA.

Men from Pan Myaung village in Minbya Township and Myo Chaung village in Mrauk-U Township have been charged under the Counter-Terrorism law, but the prosecution did not turn up in the Sittwe district court at their first trial on 12 July.

Leaders of the protest said that Chin people living in Paletwa Township and Arakan State have faced human rights violations because of the conflicts in the region and 118 schools in Paletwa Township have been shut down currently

A demonstration will be held in front of the Singapore and Myanmar embassies in Washington D.C, U.S.A on 15 July in support of the six Arakanese people who were deported from Singapore to Myanmar.

A villager from Thayet Ta Bin village in Kyauktaw Township has been discharged on 11 July after he had been accused of having connections with the AA.

Although the Singaporean government takes action according to its legal framework, the language and rhetoric used in the statement could tarnish the prestige of the AA/ULA and the entire Arakanese people, the ULA said in its statement.

The Arakan State parliament chiefs have urged the UN special envoy to Myanmar Ms. Christine Schraner Burgener on 11 July to address the government to build shelters for IDPs in Arakan State for the rainy season.

Because of the Tatmadaw’s interrogations in villages during the fighting in northern Arakan State, the resignations of village administrators have increased because of safety issues.

Following the incessant rainfall, the Sin Baw Kaing refugee camp located at the bank of the Lay Myo River has been submerged which affects IDPs living in over 400 tents in the camp. They urgently need to be evacuated to alternative locations.

The Indian government is going to provide USD 25 million within five years for resettlement of returnees and socio-economic development in Arakan State, Indian ambassador to Myanmar Mr. Shri Saurabh Kumar said.

“Water seeps into the villages, and the water level is now three to six feet high. Since we are cut off from Internet access, we could not post about the flooding in our villages on social media,” said administrator of Ohe Pyin Taung village.

Ko Tin Hlaing Oo and Ma May Gyi were arrested near Nay Pyi Taw, administration capital of Myanmar, according to one of the detained people.