Civilian deaths in northern Arakan State have surged day by day due to explosions of landmines and artillery shells that were left unexploded during clashes near villages.

Three villages in Sittwe Township will have access to an electric power supply within the 2019-2020 fiscal year, said a member of parliament in Arakan State.

“The FDA released a list of foods that should not be consumed after they were tested. However, people had already eaten the tainted food. These spoiled food products are mostly found in some villages in remote area.

“In the summer, we face water shortages and we had to fetch water from other villages, this action wastes our time. We could not cook our food in a timely fashion,” said Daw Oo Than Hmone from Kyay Daw Pike Sate village.

Seven villagers died and eight others were injured in Kyauktan village due to gunfire while the Tatmadaw detained a total of 275 men for questioning, accusing them of having connections with the Arakan Army.

The Arakan State parliament endorsed the proposal urging the government to return bodies of people who died during interrogations to their family members after receiving unanimous support in the parliament.

There are 99 refugee camps with over 35,000 IDPs in Rathedaung, Buthidaung, Ponnagyun, Pauktaw, Minbya, Kyauktaw and Mrauk-U Townships, according to Rakhine Ethnic Congress (REC).

IDP students can attend schools nearby the camps and temporary buildings will be built for the camps that are far from schools, said U Sein Tun Hla, deputy director of the Office of the Head of Education Department in Arakan State.

“We always hear the sound of artillery fire, but shells never land here. However, an artillery shell landed near the hospital yesterday, we were scared. Nurses were crying. I can’t persuade them to stay here.”

“They didn’t see their loved ones. It was painful for them. That’s why we, as the Arakan state government, submitted the proposal to return the bodies of victims to their respective families officially,” he told the media.

The Arakan National Party (ANP) sent an open letter to the heads of government on May 2 to take immediate action against some soldiers who attacked civilians during military operations in Northern Arakan State.

Seven villagers died and eight others were injured in Kyauktan village, Rathedaung Township, during an investigations by the Tatmadaw relating to possible affiliations with the AA, a resident, who asked to remain anonymous, told the DMG.

“Military and town elders dug a new grave in the village cemetery. While digging they unearthed the body of an old woman, and they stop digging,” said U Maung Kyaw Zan, Amyotha Hluttaw representtaive for Buthidaung Township.

A proposal urging the state government to allow support from NGOs/INGOs and CSOs for war refugees in Arakan State was submitted to the Arakan State Parliament on May 2.

A proposal urging the state government to allow support from NGOs/INGOs and CSOs for war refugees in Arakan State was submitted to the Arakan State Parliament on May 2.

More than 200 villagers from Kyauktan village in Rathedaung Township were summoned to a village school for questioning by No. 22 Brigade, according to locals.

U Kyaw Nyunt Maung, the lawyer for Dr Aye Maung, said that legal officials did not say why they put the court hearing off and he was not aware of the date of the new court hearing.

The Tatmadaw declared a unilateral ceasefire in four Commands from December 21 to April 30 and fierce battles broke out in Rakhine State within four months, AA’s spokesperson Khaing Thukha told the DMG.

The Tatmadaw’s ceasefire declaration for the Northern Command, North-East Command, East Command, Central Command and Triangle Region Command expired on Tuesday. The Tatmadaw keep omitting the Western Command for ceasefire declarations.