Junta soldiers abducted seven youths from a monastery in Kandi Village, near the Kyaukphyu-Yangon road, on December 13.

The AA is ramping up an offensive against the military to take control of Gwa Town, with the regime fiercely defending its positions against the ethnic armed group's attacks with army, navy and aerial support.

Junta boss Min Aung Hlaing has called on the Three Brotherhood Alliance, which includes the Arakkha Army (AA), to “abandon the armed path and get on the right path.”

The Arakkha Army (AA) says it has taken control of the entirety of Taungup Township after capturing the Myanmar regime's No. 5 Military Operations Command (MOC), the last-standing of the three MOCs based in Arakan State, on December 14.

There were 1,517 attacks against healthcare since the coup, and a total of 333 healthcare facilities were destroyed, according to the UNOCHA report.

Children taking refuge at displacement camps have lost access to education, while air and artillery strikes and malnourishment are taking a heavy toll on their physical and mental well-being.

With the ongoing military conflict in Arakan State, medicine shortages have never been more acute, and the risk of infectious diseases such as malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis (TB) is a growing concern.

Fierce fighting continues in Taungup Township as the Arakkha Army (AA) is focused on capturing the Myanmar regime's No. 5 Military Operations Command (MOC), the last-standing of the three MOCs based in Arakan State.

The Arakkha Army (AA) has begun the battle for control of Gwa Town by attacking the military’s Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) No. 563, according to sources close to the ethnic armed group.

Members of Muslim communities told DMG that ANDF has around 50 members. It was formed in October and led by former Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO) leader Dr. Enik.

The junta boss also urged them to be obedient and disciplined, saying “Only obedient and disciplined followers can develop into competent leaders.”

Anti-regime groups such as the Student Armed Force (SAF), Asho Chin Defense Force (ACDF), and People's Revolutionary Alliance (PRA-Magwe) are active in the Arakan Mountains on the Arakan-Magwe border.

"Landmines are planted in the forests in our area. Many people were killed or injured in landmine blasts. Locals are facing livelihood hardships as they dare not go out of their homes," said a youth in Kyaukphyu.

A resident was injured after a junta soldier fleeing Border Guard Force Battalion No. 5 threw a grenade at villagers near the lake in front of Maungdaw Township's Kanthayar Village on Thursday evening.

The AA has seized control of Ramree, Sanae and Maei towns, which are close to Kyaukphyu, home to a China-backed special economic zone, deep-sea port project and twin oil and gas pipelines.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) unveiled its annual Emergency Watchlist on December 11, highlighting the 20 countries most likely to face escalating humanitarian crises next year, with Myanmar ranked third.

People who have lost limbs face difficulties in daily social activities due to the lack of assistive devices such as crutches and prosthetic limbs.

Fierce fighting between the military and Arakkha Army (AA) has reportedly been ongoing in Gwa Township, Arakan State, since December 10.

The AA has captured 11 townships in Arakan State over the past year, as well as Paletwa Township in neighbouring Chin State, since the latest fighting with the Myanmar military began in November 2023.