Myanmar’s reputation globally has diminished as a result of the February 1 coup and subsequent actions taken by the military government, the head of the Peace Process Steering Team (PPST) said on May 27.

Although residents of Tin Ma village in Kyauktaw Township, Arakan State, submitted a letter to the Arakan State Administration Council for a second time seeking to be able to resettle in their home village, the council has not yet replied, according to the villagers.

On the first day of school enrolment for the 2021-22 academic year, there were 54,687 students enrolled in Arakan State, according to the State Education Officer’s office, which is housed under the auspices of the Ministry of Education’s Department of Basic Education.

Many temporary shelters at IDP camps in Mrauk-U Township, Arakan State, have been destroyed by Cyclone Yaas, which formed over the Bay of Bengal in recent days, according to IDP camp managers.

Five people were arrested in Manaung town, Arakan State, on May 24 for allegedly dealing fake gold at multiple local pawn shops, according to the Manaung Township police station.

Roads, bridges, electricity and government offices are being built in Laytaung town, Ramree Township, and infrastructure projects are being upgraded as in other towns, according to the town implementation committee.

Residents from Hsin Tat Maw village in Pauktaw Township, Arakan State, say their retaining wall was damaged by strong winds on Tuesday morning.

The number of internally displaced people (IDPs) are increasing day by day in Loikaw and Dimawso townships of Kayah State due to fighting between military council forces and a People’s Defense Force (PDF) on May 20, and IDPs are facing difficulties for their living, according to residents.

Many temporary shelters at IDP camps in Arakan State have been made of bamboo and similarly flimsy timber, prompting concerns over the accommodation of the internally displaced people (IDPs) amid a wet and windy weather pattern in the region, according to IDP camp managers.

With a depression in the east central Bay of Bengal intensifying into a deep depression, the Shwe Pyi Tan express boat line in Arakan State will suspend services for two days, an official of the boat line said. 

A man has been arrested in connection with the May 20 rape of a woman sheltering at the Gandhari camp for internally displaced people (IDPs) in Buthidaung Township, Arakan State. 

Arakan State News Summary (May 15-21, 2021)

The Arakan State Administration Council says a dumpsite at Akyeittawkone hill in the state capital Sittwe will be relocated to Hmansi Cemetery from June 1.

Of the people who returned from Bangladesh to Sittwe on May 21, six men tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Arakan State Public Health Department.

Wave Money, one of Myanmar’s top mobile financial services providers, said the company would take action against agents who overcharge on service fees.

Public housing projects are being developed for civil servants in some Arakan State townships, but in Sittwe it is difficult to build such housing due to land shortages, according to the Department of Urban and Housing Development.

Basic education schools in Arakan State are ready to reopen on June 1, according to the Arakan State Education Officer’s office.

Donors’ help is needed to rebuild houses that were destroyed by fire in Kan Htaung Gyi village, Myebon Township, on May 20, according to a volunteer group that is assisting the fire victims.

The Arakan League for Democracy (ALD) will not attend the second meeting of the junta-reconstituted Union Election Commission (UEC) with registered political parties.