Cyclone Mocha, which made landfall over Arakan State with deadly force on May 14, destroyed tens of thousands of homes and buildings across Arakan State, leaving many people homeless.

Veteran Arakanese politician U Pe Than recently spoke to DMG about relations between Myanmar’s military regime and the AA, and why the junta has imposed restrictions on the delivery of humanitarian aid for storm-ravaged Arakan State.

DMG interviewed some Sittwe residents about whether the regime’s assistance to people affected by Cyclone Mocha has been effective and what the situation actually looks like on the ground.

Some IDPs from various displacement camps in Arakan State talked to DMG about the challenges of recovering from the storm’s damage.

DMG interviewed Daw Ma Tin about her native village, her life in the displacement camp, and her hopes for the future.

Officials from the ALD, DNDP and KNDP recently talked to DMG about their plans for the future.

U Min Htel War recently spoke to DMG about what being awarded the doctorate means to him, as well as discussing future plans for his charity.

The Arakan Army (AA) — formed by 26 young people in Laiza, Kachin State, close to the Chinese border in northern Myanmar and where the Kachin Independence Army ethnic armed group is headquartered — celebrated the 14th anniversary of its founding on April 10.

EAO leaders and political analysts shared their views with DMG about Min Aung Hlaing’s threat.

DMG interviewed U Ba Shein, a top figure within the Arakan National Party (ANP) and member of the party’s policy committee, about the party’s decision to compete in the upcoming election, in defiance of many of the regime’s critics.

The military regime has since begun forcing internally displaced people (IDPs) in Arakan State and Paletwa Township,

On International Women’s Day, which fell on March 8, a cross-section of women in Arakan State shared their views on gender inequality and the challenges they face under military rule.

Residents in Sittwe feel deprived of their security amid a reportedly rising crime rate in the Arakan State capital, which these days sees reports of muggings in broad daylight in which motorbike-riding thieves grab handphones and purses from pedestrians.

DMG interviewed U Myo Kyaw, general secretary of the ALD, to find out more about his party’s election stance and its view on Myanmar’s political situation more broadly.

Myanmar-based political observer and former lawmaker for the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party U Ye Tun recently spoke to DMG about the new Political Parties Registration Law.

Some of Arakan State’s smaller ethnic political parties spoke to DMG about their views on the junta-organised election scheduled for later this year, and whether they plan to contest the vote.

The year 2022 brought renewed conflict to Arakan State as a ceasefire between the Myanmar military and Arakan Army (AA) broke down in August, resulting in mass displacement and scores of civilian casualties. At the same time, economic hardship and the Covid-19 pandemic continued to make life difficult for many of the state’s residents. 

The informal truce was observed on humanitarian grounds, according to the AA spokesman, who said Arakan State’s residents have been suffering for months from junta blockades of roads and waterways, and indiscriminate junta artillery strikes.

Since the military coup in February 2021, power outages have become a frequent occurrence in Arakan State, and this month, electricity has been out at least twice a day, often lasting for four hours or more.