"We are continuing with the process in the remaining areas as thoroughly as possible. We estimate that the census will be completed by the end of this year," said the junta leader.

WFP stated that Dunford’s appointment as its representative and country director comes at a critical time for Myanmar, which is facing worsening humanitarian crises.

“The harvesting fee for paddy has risen to K300,000 per acre. If we sell the paddy and pay the harvest fee, we have nothing left,” said U Hla Maung, a local farmer in Kyauktaw Township.

Nearly 20 children under the age of 5 from the Kan Gyi Shin IDP camp and a displacement camp near the railway station in Kyauktaw have diarrhoea, and some children have been hospitalised.

Local Muslims have accused ARSA and RSO of cooperating with boatmen near the Naf River to convince Muslim internally displaced people (IDPs) that they would receive support in refugee camps in Bangladesh, and extorting exorbitant amounts of money from them.

Fighting between the Myanmar military and Arakkha Army (AA) is escalating near Satthwar Village in Gwa Township, with some junta soldiers retreating from the area, according to military sources.

The HPV vaccine was previously administered annually by local health departments, but the latest fighting in Arakan State has halted routine immunisation programmes.

Most basic goods and medicines are imported from Kyauktaw, and a single sheet of Decolgen, which costs K5,000 in Kyauktaw, is sold for K10,000 in Rathedaung, and the price of a single sheet of Digene is K5,000.

Five people displaced by fighting in Gwa Township, Arakan State, who were taking refuge in Yekyi Township, Ayeyarwady Region, have reportedly been arrested by Myanmar's military regime.

Civilian casualties were inflicted by junta airstrikes, artillery bombardments, ground assaults, unexploded ordnance, and landmines. Airstrikes were the major cause of civilian fatalities. 

In addition to a general lack of humanitarian aid, IDPs face a food crisis due to pervasive unemployment and rising commodity prices.

A total of 198 have since been released, but 505 are still detained, the report said. Among those arrested were 24 children under the age of 18.

Residents of Kyaukphyu reported that all private banks, including KBZ, CB, and Global Treasure Bank, have been closed since November 15, with more junta troops deployed in the town.

The soldiers who have surrendered range from draftees forcibly recruited under the mandatory military service law to majors and other high-ranking personnel.

Livelihood hardships and rising commodity prices have necessitated that many children under the age of 18 do odd jobs to support their families.

Since the second week of October, over 500 Arakan State residents working at construction sites in Mongpauk Town, Wa State, have been jobless as the border closure has led to a shortage of cement and other construction materials.

U Soe Myint had been conscientiously cleaning up the Kaingshae Bridge and the surrounding area in the centre of Taungup for the past decade, and was awarded the Heart of Charity Award for his efforts.

The deceased were three from Minbya, two from Thandwe, and one each from Pauktaw and Mrauk-U. The injured included four from Maungdaw, three each from Ponnagyun and Kyauktaw, two from Mrauk-U and one from Ann.

The military has been clashing with the AA near the Kaingshae Bridge and Theintaung Ward in Taungup, where the regime's No. 5 Military Operations Command is based, since November 13.