Burmese security forces have discovered tunnels that they claim were carved out by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army in Kyaukpandu and Thinbawkway villages, in Rakhine State’s Maungdaw Township.

The Rakhine State government is set to close down, by 2 November, temporary camps for internally displaced persons affected by the most recent violence to plague the state, insisting that calm has been restored at their original places of residence.

A UN settlement programme on Thursday rejected a Burmese state media report that it had agreed to help build housing for people fleeing violence in northern Arakan State, where an army operation has displaced hundreds of thousands.

Buddhists in Burma on Wednesday blocked aid workers from visiting a camp for displaced Muslims in the central part of Arakan State, where the United Nations fears the spread of violence that has already displaced hundreds of thousands.

Burma and Bangladesh on Tuesday agreed to cooperate on the repatriation of Rohingya refugees and took steps to boost border security as relations between the neighbours have been strained by the continuing flow of refugees into Bangladesh.

“Once UNFC is on the NCA path and is negotiating with the other parties involved, it can amend the things they do not want. There is nothing to be concerned about.”