Basic commodities flowing from mainland Myanmar into Arakan State are facing severe shortages and rising prices after the regime blocked the key trade route in Magway Region’s Saw Township amid ongoing clashes.

After recapturing some territories across Myanmar, the regime is now intensifying multi-front efforts to reclaim areas controlled by the Arakan Army (AA), including territories in Arakan State.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) will provide healthcare assistance worth 1.3 million euros for women in Myanmar, including those affected by conflict and war in Arakan State.

The regime is continuing to reinforce its troops in parts of Magway Region and southern Chin State bordering Arakan State, prompting local resistance groups to restrict civilian travel in several townships.

The Central Customs and Taxation Department under the United League of Arakan (ULA) will officially launch and begin selling the “Arakan Lottery” next month in areas controlled by the Arakan Army (AA).

In recent months, the Myanmar military regime has recaptured some resistance-held towns in northern Chin State and is also launching offensives on towns in southern Chin State.

The regime has been firing heavy artillery from Arakan State capital Sittwe into Pauktaw Township in recent days.

Fierce clashes are ongoing in Kanpetlet Township, southern Chin State, where regime forces are launching an offensive, and junta troops have reportedly torched and destroyed homes near Kanpetlet Town.

Human rights advocacy group Fortify Rights on May 21 called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue an arrest warrant for Ataullah Abu Ammar Jununi, leader of the Muslim armed group Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA).

Although resistance forces had seized control of 104 towns across 10 states and regions in Myanmar, the regime has now reportedly recaptured 19 of those towns.

Regime forces advancing near Sanae Town in Kyaukphyu Township, Arakan State, have reportedly suffered heavy casualties from Arakan Army (AA) attacks, forcing them to retreat toward the Taung Maw Gyi naval station.

Sources familiar with the ground situation said the regime has blocked the transport of goods and food supplies in recent days to Thaphanyaung, Pyaung and Htanpingon villages in Mindon Township, Magway Region, which border the Arakan mountain range.

The military regime recaptured Tonzang Town in northern Chin State and Mawtaung Town in Tanintharyi Region on May 19 after launching offensives against resistance forces that had previously controlled the two towns.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a report on May 19 accusing members of the Arakan Army (AA) of killing 170 local Muslims in Hoyyar Siri, also known as Htan Shauk Khan Village, in Buthidaung Township, Arakan State.

The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Myanmar regime have held successive meetings with Chinese mediation, with recent discussions now assessed to have reached a tense stage.

Internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Kyaukphyu Township sheltering in Taungup Township are facing severe livelihood hardships due to the intensifying fighting in Kyaukphyu and are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, locals said.

As the offensive of the Arakan Army (AA) and allied forces has currently reached within 3 miles of No. 16 junta weapons factory [KaPaSa 16] in Padaung Township, Bago Region, evacuations of military family members and some female soldiers to the Southern Command based in Taungoo have reportedly been carried out since May 14.

Due to the impact of military conflict, commodity prices are skyrocketing in southern Arakan State townships such as Ramree, Kyaukphyu, Thandwe, Ann, and Gwa, creating livelihood hardships for local residents.

Military tension is reportedly high between the regime and the Arakan Army (AA) on the Sittwe battlefield as Myanmar’s military regime has recently reinforced its forces from Kyaukphyu to Sittwe using warships.