Arakan State residents hope that Japan’s Nippon Foundation chairman Yohei Sasakawa might have urged the Myanmar military regime to lift travel restrictions in Arakan State.

Widespread fuel shortages have been reported across Arakan State due to the junta’s road and waterway blockades, forcing many social organisations to halt operations.

A resident of Thet Kan Htaung Village in Kazukaing village-tract was killed by a junta artillery strike on November 14. Six villagers from Alel Chaung village in Darletchaung village-tract were wounded the same day.

At least 15 child casualties, including three fatalities, have been reported to date in Arakan State over the first 20 days of the latest hostilities between the Myanmar military and Arakan Army, according to a DMG tally.

U Win Zaw, 40, was sleeping in his paddy fields as he needed to guard them against wild animals before the harvest, said a family member.

“We didn’t expect this. We might have been very busy at this time of year otherwise,” said a member of Arakan State Thabin Asiayone, who asked for anonymity.

Muslim IDP camps in Arakan State are often dependent on food supplied by international organisations such as WFP, ICRC, Save the Children and MSF.

“Fighting has erupted since Friday morning. Junta soldiers at military camps near three villages reportedly surrendered to the resistance forces,” said a resident of Kawkareik.

Sasakawa mediated a ceasefire between Myanmar military and the Arakan Army (AA) in the previous fighting in Arakan State, leading observers to speculate that Sasakawa come to do the same job he had done before.

Fierce fighting between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army (AA) was ongoing in Pauktaw, Arakan State, on Friday.

Materials used to calculate firing data to shell residential areas were discovered, according to local residents, at the junta-controlled Tin Nyo police station in Mrauk-U Township, Arakan State.

The Three Brotherhood Alliance also seized more than 200 junta bases and military camps and more than 400 junta soldiers surrendered to the anti-regime forces, the statement added.

Four residents of Thandwe Township, Arakan State, were sentenced to three years in prison under Section 17(1) of the Unlawful Associations Act on November 29.

The Arakan Army (AA) has breached an informal ceasefire agreement with the military in Arakan State, junta boss Min Aung Hlaing said Thursday.

“Muslim casualties were reported due to the junta’s indiscriminate shelling and firings in our area,” said a resident of Hsingyipyin Village in Minbya Township.

Arrests of locals followed the junta’s increasing its military presence and tightening security checks on residents in southern Arakan State. Among the detainees are businessmen, social activists and women.

Government employees in Sittwe are going to the office as usual, while some employees in other townships have fled to safer places due to fighting.

Only a few gold shops are still open in Sittwe, but there are reportedly no buyers, with people only pawning or selling their gold jewellery at those shops.

Fierce fighting erupted after the AA launched an attack on a Border Guard Force outpost near Bawdigon Village on the Angumaw-Maungdaw road on the morning of November 28.