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.

Last rainy season, fertiliser prices were so high that most farmers were unable to use enough. In addition, thousands of acres of farmland were damaged by floods in Kyauktaw and Mrauk-U townships in July and August, forcing farmers to replant paddy.

Fighting has flared up between the regime and the Arakkha Army (AA) on the road through the Arakan Mountains linking Gwa Township in Arakan State with Ngathaingchaung in Ayeyarwady Region.

The AA has laid siege to Sittwe since seizing Ponnagyun, Rathedaung and Pauktaw townships bordering Sittwe. Some AA troops have penetrated Sittwe, resulting in frequent skirmishes with the regime.

Following heavy military defeats over the past year that have seen Myanmar’s military regime losing large swaths of territory in northern Shan State and Arakan State, junta boss Min Aung Hlaing reshuffled his cabinet on Wednesday.

The AA reported that he was attempting to flee into Bangladesh but could not due to a blockade by AA troops. The colonel died of blood loss after he stepped on a landmine planted by local border guard police, according to the AA.

The regime is continuously counter-attacking with airstrikes, while video footage released by the AA showed many junta soldiers surrendering due to the ethnic armed group’s assault.

Two teenage boys from Udaung Village, part of Arakan State’s Maungdaw Township, were injured in a junta artillery attack on Wednesday evening.

The WFP said it was aware of media reports indicating that WFP-marked food bags were allegedly found in a building previously used by border guard forces in northern Arakan State.