Political parties in Arakan State are struggling to make preparations for the upcoming general election due to the prolonged internet shutdown affecting some townships, according to party officials. 

Family members have asked the Myanmar Army to release two detainees from Zin Chaung village in Arakan State’s Kyaukphyu Township, saying the military was within its rights to take action against the accused if it finds them guilty of wrongdoing. 

Three civilians were wounded by heavy shelling in New Chainkharli village, part of Arakan State’s Rathedaung Township, after gunshots were heard between the Old and New Chainkharli villages on the morning of July 13.

Two people from Kyauk Phyar village in Myebon Township, Arakan State, were reportedly injured by gunfire from a Myanmar Army contingent near Kazukaing Bridge in Ann Township, according to residents.

A resident of Bawdigone village in southern Maungdaw Township, Arakan State, was trampled to death by a wild elephant while en route to his farm on Saturday, locals said.

With artillery shells landing near Done Paik village in Rathedaung Township since Sunday morning, villagers in the area have been fleeing their homes, residents said.

Two men from Sai Chone village in Kyaukphyu Township, Arakan State, were reportedly arrested by the Myanmar military on July 11, according to residents.

Heavy weapons and small arms fire in Ponnagyun Township’s Ywarhaung ward left an elderly man dead and a teenage girl wounded on July 11, according to the victims’ family members.

A 37-year-old woman from U Gar village in Rathedaung Township, Arakan State, has filed a lawsuit at the Sittwe Myoma police station against three members of the Myanmar Army over an alleged rape.

Two boatmen who returned to Maungdaw Township, Arakan State, from Bangladesh after transporting commodities were reportedly found to have been infected with coronavirus, according to the Maungdaw District Department of Public Health.

Two women from Aung Bala village in Arakan State’s Rathedaung Township were injured by stray bullets fired by the Myanmar Army on July 11, according to family members of the victims.

The Manaung Public Company’s hotel and tourism zone, one of 10 “master plans” that the firm has put together to further development in Manaung Township, is targeting a November opening date, with applications currently being accepted for hotel staff positions.

With more war refugees arriving in recent weeks at two camps for internally displaced people (IDPs) in Ann town, Arakan State, additional shelters are needed, according to managers of the camps. 

More than 400 government employees and Chin State residents have been stranded in downtown Paletwa, one of western Myanmar’s largest cities, unable to return home for the time being due to safety concerns and suspended transport routes.

Government plans to build new schooling facilities for students from IDP camps in Paletwa Township, Chin State, are being hampered by travel restrictions, according to the Chin State government.

Armed conflict in townships across Arakan State, combined with poor transportation links and restrictions on travel in the affected areas, are causing difficulties accessing healthcare services, with at times life-and-death consequences, according to healthcare workers.

Social organisations in Arakan State are facing difficulties transporting civilians wounded in conflict due to prolonged inspections at checkpoints and also report being hassled when going to IDP camps to distribute donations. 

The hardships of everyday life for tens of thousands of internally displaced people (IDPs) — worries about having adequate food, clothing, shelter, and healthcare — are such that few have the time or interest at the moment to pay much attention to the upcoming 2020 general election, IDPs say. 

About 2,000 internally displaced people are taking refuge in six government-built IDP camps in Arakan State’s Mrauk-U, Kyauktaw, Ponnagyun, Rathedaung and Buthidaung townships, according to the Rakhine Ethnics Congress.