The regime has blockaded roads and waterways since renewed fighting broke out on November 13 last year, making it impossible for many residents to travel between towns.

The parallel National Unity Government (NUG) was among those sending messages of felicitation to mark the 15th anniversary of the founding of the Arakan Army (AA) on Wednesday.

The junta’s indiscriminate artillery strikes killed a boy and injured a teenager in two Arakan State townships on Tuesday, according to local people.

The Chin Brotherhood, an ethnic alliance of six anti-regime resistance groups based in Chin State, said it would cooperate with the Arakan Army (AA) in eliminating the dictatorship in Myanmar.

Arakan Army (AA) chief Major-General Twan Mrat Naing vowed to seize total control of Arakan State in his address marking the 15th anniversary of the ethnic armed group’s founding on Wednesday.

A Myanmar Navy vessel docked at a location between Ramree and Manaung fired at least eight mortar shells into some villages in the Konbaung area of Ramree Township on Wednesday morning,

Junta travel restrictions in the wake of the latest fighting have brought most humanitarian operations to a halt.

A local man was severely injured after stepping on a landmine near a hill between two villages in Arakan State’s Kyaukphyu Township on Tuesday morning.

Ann, Taungup and Kyaukphyu towns in Arakan State are running out of rice due to the junta’s travel restrictions and strict controls on the transportation of commodities.

Family members have expressed concern for the safety of a woman from Thandwe Township who was abducted by Myanmar’s military regime two days ago.

A junta jet fighter conducted two bombing runs on Kyaungphyukwin, Ywathit, Gwegaing, and Kyintaunggyi villages in Ann Township.

Fierce clashes have been reported in Maungdaw on a daily basis as the military responds to the AA’s attacks with artillery attacks and airstrikes, a resident in Maungdaw said.

WFP announced on April 8 that it distributed emergency food to nearly 20,000 internally  displaced people (IDPs) in northern Arakan State between March 19 and April 8.

Junta soldiers arrived at Thitpone Village in Manaung Township on Sunday and forced them to sign documents stating that they would not engage with the AA.

Fierce clashes were reported near the Tawhein tactical command base near Kazukaing Village, Dar Let and the Western Command headquarters in Ann Township on April 7, locals said.

According to a DMG tally, over 40 homes in Ann Township, four homes and a school building in Myebon, and 10 each in Buthidaung and Minbya townships were destroyed by the junta airstrikes.

Rural healthcare centres and groceries in the Tawphyarchaung area have run out of medicine due to travel restrictions and transportation barriers during the latest fighting, locals said.

Wave Pay and KBZ Pay agents, who are connected with banks, have no more banking system and are struggling to provide cash-in and cash-out services.

Fierce clashes were reported in Maungdaw as the Arakan Army (AA) has ramped up offensive attacks on junta bases, military camps and border guard force outposts in the area.