Indiscriminate plastic waste disposal is increasing in Arakan State, raising concerns about environmental pollution, according to environmental activists, who stress the need for systematic waste management.

The price of Mitragyna speciosa leaves has reportedly risen to as high as K200,000 per viss in Arakan Army-controlled townships in Arakan State, amid growing use of the leaves as a narcotic.

Myanmar’s military regime is changing its airstrike tactics, deploying different types of air weapons depending on local conditions and target types, according to a recent airstrike study by the Myanmar Defense & Security Institute (MDSI).

Health professionals and parents say children in Arakan State, controlled by the Arakan Army, are increasingly suffering from pneumonia, phlegm, and seasonal flu this winter, a trend they attribute to climate change.

Investigations have revealed that Muslim militiamen forcibly recruited into military camps in Sittwe are fleeing because they can no longer endure oppression within the Myanmar military.

Fishing activities in Thandwe Township have come to a halt due to Myanmar Navy operations in coastal waters and the arrest of local residents, according to locals.

Myanmar’s military regime carried out an airstrike on a detention centre holding prisoners of war (POWs) and their family members near Chaungtu Village in Kyauktaw Township, Arakan State, killing 21 people and injuring 30 others, according to local sources.

Military observers say the Arakan Army (AA) has made visible efforts this month to expand its territorial control in Sittwe Township, the capital of Arakan State.

According to villagers, the incident occurred on January 17 at around 1:00 PM. While the child was playing at her home, a neighbor identified as 50-year-old U Hla Than allegedly lured her to his house and committed the assault while no one else was present.

Internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Ponnagyun Township, Arakan State, are increasingly resorting to begging as they struggle with severe livelihood hardships, a lack of job opportunities, and dwindling humanitarian assistance amid ongoing conflict.

Civilian casualties are rising in Kyaukphyu Township, Arakan State, as Myanmar’s military regime continues airstrikes and artillery attacks on villages where local residents live, according to local sources.

Timber traders in Arakan State say timber prices have soared sharply, while demand from buyers and builders remains low.

Fierce fighting is ongoing between the Myanmar military regime and a coalition led by the Arakan Army (AA) near Nat Yay Kan tactical junta base in Ngaphe Township, Magway Region, along the Ann–Padan Road, with the regime reportedly deploying drones in the clashes.

In an era when daily news from Arakan is often fragmented and fast-changing, DMG's Weekly Highlights of Arakan brings clarity, depth, and context to the stories that matter most.

At least five locals were robbed and killed in Arakan State, controlled by the Arakan Army, between July 2025 and January 2026, according to DMG figures.

Myanmar’s military regime is staging arrests of drug traffickers while drug factories are actually owned by military generals, Arakan Army (AA) spokesperson U Khaing Thukha said.

Internally displaced people (IDPs) at the Kyantalin displacement camp in Ponnagyun Township, home to nearly 2,000 people, say they are facing severe water shortages, making it difficult to cook food and meet daily needs.

Locals in Arakan State report that air ticket prices on the Sittwe-Kyaukphyu-Yangon routes in 2026 have increased by nearly K300,000 compared to 2025, causing financial strain for many residents.

Two displaced women were killed and two others injured by airstrikes, suicide drone attacks and heavy weapons fire from a Myanmar Navy warship in Kyaukphyu Township, Arakan State, according to local sources.