The military regime has been reinforcing its positions in Gwa Town amid intense fighting with the Arakkha Army (AA), with three tanks and more than 20 military trucks heading to Gwa from Ayeyarwady Region on Monday night.

Sixteen people displaced by fighting in Gwa Township, Arakan State, who were taking shelter in Yekyi Township, Ayeyarwady Region, have reportedly been arrested by Myanmar’s military regime.

Locals often suffer injuries and deaths from landmines planted by the military regime in the forests and fields of Gwa Township.

Cannabis is mostly grown in Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw and Buthidaung townships, and its use is reported to be higher among young people in Kyauktaw and Ponnagyun townships.

The military regime is forcing internally displaced people (IDPs) from Arakan State taking refuge in Yekyi and Kyonepyaw townships in Ayeyarwady Region to relocate.

The Chin Brotherhood reported on Sunday that the Arakkha Army (AA) provided military weapons, ammunition, reinforcements, military advice, and other support in its offensive against the regime for control of Mindat and Kanpetlet towns in Chin State.

The regime regularly uses those types of aircraft in its airstrikes on the civilian population.

The Myanmar military and Arakkha Army (AA) exchanged heavy weapons fire near villages on the border of Arakan State's Sittwe and Ponnagyun townships on December 21 and 22.

Locally grown flowers are in high demand in Arakan State as the junta’s blockades have effectively barred the supply of flowers from Yangon and other parts of the country, according to flower growers and sellers.

The Arakkha Army (AA) has vowed to liberate all of western Myanmar’s Arakan State. It has captured 14 townships including 13 townships in Arakan State and Paletwa Township in neighbouring Chin State.

The whereabouts of four ethnic Thet people from Magyigone Village in Arakan State’s Maungdaw Township are still unknown since they disappeared around six months ago.

Due to the difficulty of traveling to Nar Daung Kya Village and the lack of job opportunities in the area, IDPs are finding it difficult to make a living.

Junta attacks killed 633 civilians — 243 female and 390 male — from July 1 to December 19. Sagaing Region had the highest number of casualties, with 140. Of the total, 90 were children under the age of 18 and 79 were over the age of 60.

The AA is currently attacking the remaining junta battalion and military camps in Gwa, and clashes with military regiments under the 11th Light Infantry Division are ongoing.

An increase in malaria cases has been reported in Tawphyarchaung village-tract in Arakan State’s Ponnagyun Township, with resulting fatalities due to a shortage of medicines, according to residents.

Tens of thousands of civilians displaced by fighting in Arakan State’s Ann Township need emergency relief supplies, the Humanitarian and Development Coordination Office (HDCO) of the Arakkha Army (AA) reported on Friday.

The Arakkha Army (AA) has banned the sale and consumption of all imported and domestic alcoholic beverages including liquor, beer and wine in its areas of control starting December 20, according to residents.

Bombs dropped by two junta jet fighters fell and exploded in Thandwe’s Ward 1 and Ward 4 at around 11 p.m. on December 19, wounding the three.

The Arakkha Army (AA) seized control of the military's Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) No. 563 in Gwa, Arakan State, on Friday morning, according to sources close to the ethnic armed group.