Lack of access to information, censorship and threats of legal action continue to pose challenges for journalists in Arakan State. 

A local philanthropic group is providing more than K10 million to over 200 families of people sentenced to prison in Arakan State after being charged under the Counter-Terrorism Law, or who went missing during clashes between the military and Arakan Army (AA).

Locals in Chin State’s Paletwa Township have been restricted from leaving their homes after 11 a.m. due to a recent increase in the number of people infected with Covid-19.

Authorities in Gwa Township, Arakan State, have arranged to take action against three people under the Natural Disaster Management Law for breaching a local stay-at-home order, an official of the Gwa Township General Administration Department (GAD) told DMG. 

Internally displaced people (IDPs) from Thet Kal Pyin Muslim IDP camp in Sittwe, Arakan State, began receiving the Covid-19 vaccine on Saturday, but media coverage of the inoculation campaign at the camp was prohibited, according to members of the press who went there to report. 

The driver of the truck fled but left his wife behind in the vehicle when authorities stopped them at the checkpoint.

The Gandaryi camp for internally displaced people (IDPs) in Arakan State’s Buthidaung Township has been under lockdown after a woman from the camp tested positive for Covid-19, with IDPs from the camp in need of rice and kitchen items.

Residents of Thaing Chaung village in Arakan State’s Kyaukphyu Township are worried about a recent Tatmadaw troop deployment in the village, and some have fled to other areas, villagers said.

Members of a local charity group looking to provide food aid to more than 200 households in Darlat Chaung village-tract facing livelihood hardships amid the Covid-19 pandemic were not allowed to pass a military checkpoint in Arakan State’s Ann Township, according to the charity.

Covid-19 vaccines are to be provided for the residents of 15 displacement camps in Arakan State, starting at the Thet Kal Pyin Muslim camp for internally displaced people (IDPs) in Sittwe Township on August 28, according to Arakan State’s Department of Medical Services. 

A Covid-19 call centre has been established in Sittwe for coronavirus patients in Arakan State, according to U Hla Thein, chair of the Arakan State military council’s information team.

Mangrove deforestation in four coastal Arakan State townships — Kyaukphyu, Taungup, Ann and Myebon — has risen to 79%, according to mangrove conservation groups in Arakan State.

The Justice Department of the United League of Arakan (ULA), the political wing of the Arakan Army (AA), has received many complaints regarding legal disputes and is working to bring justice to the people, according to ULA/AA spokesperson U Khaing Thukha. 

Despite a decline in Covid-19 infections in many Arakan State townships, a local order was issued in Gwa Township on August 25 stating that locals should not go out after 12 noon as virus infections were still on the rise in the area.

The Tatmadaw summoned more than a dozen ward and village administrators from Kyaukphyu town in Arakan State on August 23, telling them to inform the military government regarding the activities of the Arakan Army (AA) and recent administrative initiatives of the ethnic armed group and its ULA political wing. 

The price of a ferryboat ride from Manaung to Taungup in Arakan State is up to K50,000 per person, more than five times the normal rate, according to locals.

At a time when the Covid-19 pandemic has led charitable organisations in Arakan State to address greater need with greater fundraising efforts, fraud schemes and con artists have sought to take advantage of people’s generosity. 

Despite most townships in Arakan State seeing decreases in their Covid-19 case counts and death tolls in recent days, Gwa Township continues to face high numbers in both categories, prompting the state military council to impose a stay-at-home order in Gwa starting August 25.

The Arakan Army has been closely monitoring the situation as the Myanmar military has strengthened its forces in some parts of Arakan State, according to U Khaing Thukha, spokesman for the AA.