Lu Htet Naing, Narinjara News, 23rd January 2025 

The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has warned against visiting seven townships in the Ayeyarwady Region due to continuing conflicts between the Arakan Army (AA) and military forces near the Arakan State border. 

The townships comprise Kyangin, Myanaung, Ingapu, Lemyethna, Yegyi, Thabaung, and Pathein. 

The FCDO recommends avoiding all travel to the townships, unless for essential reasons. 

Region. During the fighting, houses in the village were burned down and civilians were killed.

"The FCDO recommends avoiding all travel except for essential purposes to the townships of Kyangin, Myanaung, Ingapu, Lemyethna, Yegyi, Thabaung, and Pathein in the Ayeyarwady Region that are adjacent to the Arakan State border," the FCDO stated in a release. 

The FCDO released its travel recommendations after a statement on January 20 concerning confrontations between junta troops and the Arakan Army (AA) in areas of Ayeyarwady Region, adjacent to Arakan State. 

The AA and allied troops have taken control of Baw Mi village in the Ayeyarwady Region. In the conflict, homes in the village were set ablaze and civilians lost their lives. 

The fighting has calmed for the time being, and the people of Shwe Thaung Yan sub-township are escaping, worried that the conflict may restart at any time. 

Moreover, every school in Shwe Thaung Yan Town and Chaung Thar in Pathein Township, Ayeyarwady Region, has been shut down since January 22 because of the worsening military circumstances. 

The military junta has been strengthening defenses in Shwe Thaung Yan and Chaung Thar in anticipation of a potential attack by the AA fighters and their allies.

Both areas are located about nine miles apart and can be reached via both land and water routes. 

On January 16, fierce combat broke out between junta troops and the AA in Baw Mi village, situated close to the boundary of Gwa Township and Pathein Township in Arakan State. According to locals, the junta's airstrikes obliterated the whole village, comprising about 400 houses, and the conflict has since expanded to neighboring regions.