"KEY FINDINGS: Market operations varied by township based on very different local security conditions; Kyauktaw and Minbya markets gained new life while Maungdaw and Sittwe markets grew quieter; Supply of vegetables and fuel worsened in April as part of a trend with little sign of changing soon; Medicine and hygiene NFIs were most scarce, although NFIs in general were often unavailable; Mrauk-U and Pauktaw markets functioned best, and supply improved in Mrauk-U again in April; Maungdaw retailers still faced dire challenges, and shipping costs rose in Maungdaw in Sittwe. Market Functionality - Market operations continued to vary regionally based on security conditions. Operations resumed in Minbya Town in April, but Maungdaw and Sittwe operated irregularly. Security conditions improved slightly but remained tenuous in some markets. Market Activity - Some markets continued to regain life, but Sittwe and Maungdaw remained subdued. Activity increasingly returned to Minbya and Kyauktaw Town markets, despite lingering security risks there. Village markets in Pauktaw and Ponnagyun remained swollen due to the loss of nearby town markets. Maungdaw market activity dipped further in April, and Sittwe activity shifted to ward markets. Most markets still served only nearby villages as fuel costs limited customer movement. Availability of Goods - Supply of fuel and vegetables worsened in April, but supply was otherwise stable. Availability of vegetables worsened as local production declined regionally, and fuel supply worsened after improving slightly in March. Supply was poorest in Maungdaw, Sittwe, and Minbya Towns, with the latter two relying mostly on ward markets which seldom sell NFIs. Transport & Logistics - Shipping costs rose further in Sittwe and Maungdaw but were stable elsewhere. Shipping costs outside of Sittwe stabilized in April after two months of moderate price relief. Retailers continued sourcing goods from neighboring townships, and several paid high prices to order goods from Yangon via Toungup. Sittwe and Maungdaw markets still remained isolated in the region and faced rising shipping costs. Retailer Challenges - Retailers in some markets reported fewer challenges in April than in March. Retailers in Kyauktaw and Mrauk-U reported fewer challenges related to supply and cash access as market activity there grew. Yet retailers in Maungdaw continued to face multiple severe hurdles to selling goods. Safety/security and weak demand were common concerns, while worries about poor cash access receded slightly (in part due to greater prominence in April of ward retailers, who mostly sell vegetables and require less working capital)..."