Residents in the Ywathit neighbourhood of Nalapwe ward in Arakan State’s Kyaukphyu are facing water shortages and are having to use salt water in some cases, according to locals.

The Myanmar junta announced over the weekend that a total of 46 people arrested on suspicion of having links to the Arakan Army (AA) were released on February 12, but four of them remain detained, according to Wai Hun Aung, a writer compiling a list of those released. 

A female student from Mawlamyine University was arrested on February 13 for allegedly participating in anti-military dictator protests in the Mon State capital Mawlamyine.

Domestic flight passengers in Myanmar have to undergo Covid-19 testing from February 15, according to the Arakan State Department of Public Health (DPH).

It remains difficult to supply water from the Phalaung Pyin reservoir to all residential areas in Minbya, some of which are facing water shortages, according to the Minbya Township Development Committee. 

Although more than half of Arakan State is covered by natural forests, these forests are being destroyed at alarming annual rates, and environmental groups point out that illegal logging is one of the main causes of deforestation, rather than legal private logging.

Two buildings used as a school inside a camp for internally displaced people (IDPs) in Arakan State’s Buthidaung Township collapsed due to strong winds on February 12.

Myanmar’s military regime has cut off mobile data, the main source of internet access for millions of people in Arakan State, in some of the state’s townships since February 12, according to local people.

The rail bridge between Moatpalin and Sutpanu villages in Kyaikto Township, Mon State, was destroyed by the detonation of explosives planted by anti-regime forces on February 11, disrupting train services from Yangon to Mawlamyine, Ye and Dawei.

Forty-six people charged with having illegal ties to the Arakan Army, including several Lekka villagers long detained and on trial for alleged AA affiliations, had their cases withdrawn and were released from multiple prisons on February 12 in a junta gesture marking Myanmar’s Union Day. 

The United League of Arakan (ULA), the political wing of the Arakan Army, attended the 75th Diamond Jubilee Union Day ceremony held on February 12 in Naypyidaw.

An ongoing curfew order under Section 144 of the code of criminal procedure, imposed in Arakan State’s Maungdaw Township, has been extended for another two months from February 12.

The Covid-19 infection rate in Mon State has shown a significant uptick over the first 10 days of this month, according to local charity groups.

The Arakan National Party (ANP) will not attend this year’s Union Day celebrations on February 12, but the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP) ethnic armed group will send representatives to the event. 

Arrangements are being made to form a micro, small and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) association in Arakan State and invite entrepreneurs to join the alliance, according to U Soe Win Naing, vice chairman of the MSME Association Rakhine Implementation Committee. 

Surprise checks will be conducted in Arakan State to prevent the sale of chicken sausages that do not have FDA certification, according to Dr. Naing Naing Lin, assistant director of Arakan State’s Food and Drug Administration.

Internally displaced people (IDPs) who are temporarily taking shelter within the bounds of the ancient city of Mrauk-U are an obstacle for attempts to list it as a World Heritage Site, according to officials from the Department of Archaeology and National Museum.

Some ethnic armed organisations say they have not yet decided whether or not to engage in peace talks offered by Myanmar’s military regime. 

The Myanmar military has deployed additional soldiers in Thandaunggyi Township, Kayin State, since February 9, residents said.