Civilians as well as government departments and civil societies are facing difficulties after Myanmar’s Ministry of Information cut off internet connection in Paletwa Township in Chin State and another 8 Townships in the northern part of Rakhine State, where armed clashes between AA and Tatmadaw have been taking place.

“Internet access has been cut off around midnight on July 20. We don’t know when it will be available again. Civilians in Paletwa rely mainly on the internet for consuming news contents. Government departments and NGOs, which largely use email, will also meet with difficulties,” U Bo Thang Pai from Kimo Social Development Department said.

U Wai Tan, Chairman of Paletwa IDPs Relief Group, said that internet outage creates problems for government departments, NGOs and society as a whole.

“Even we depend on online news when we want to know information about displaced people in Paletwa Township. And we mostly use the internet for communicating distant relatives. If internet outage continues, we will face a deeper problem,” U Wai Tan said.

Ministry of Information temporarily cut off internet connection in Buthidaung, Yathaedaung, Maungdaw, Ponnagyun, Minbya, MraukU, Myaebon and Kyauktaw in Rakhine State and Paletwa Township in Chin State. Only phone call is available in those areas.