Vox Pop: 'We can go nowhere and we are starving'

By Admin 08 Sep 2024

DMG Newsroom

Myanmar's military regime has blockaded Sittwe, the capital of Arakan State, since fighting between the junta and Arakkha Army (AA) broke out anew in November. It has also planted landmines around the town.

After the townships neighbouring Sittwe fell into the hands of the AA, the regime in June forcibly relocated residents from around 20 villages on the borders of Rathedaung and Ponnagyun townships into Sittwe Town. Junta troops have since occupied those villages while villagers are having a hard time at relatives' homes and monasteries in Sittwe Town.

Some of those who were forcibly relocated to the Arakan State capital recently shared their experiences with DMG.

A Man from Aung Taing Village

We moved to Sittwe Town more than two months ago. Though we are staying at a relative's home, they can't afford to feed us for months. And we can't find a job to earn a living by ourselves.

Those who are staying at monasteries have been going hungry. Some families still can't afford to buy cooking utensils, and they have to borrow them from others to cook. They are forced to sell some rice they receive [from the World Food Programme aka WFP] so that they can buy other necessities. They have been forced to reduce their rice consumption by nearly half.

[The regime] does not need to kill us with arms. We may starve to death. People in ill health can't afford to buy medicines. Four have died so far. And we don't feel safe due to the junta's arrests. Those who can afford it can flee to Yangon by air, but low-income families can go nowhere.

A Woman from Byaing Phyu Village

We have been in a state of panic since we left our home. We are going hungry. I should have gone mad looking after my family members at home and in prison. There are many people like me. Around 80 percent of the people are starving.

If the situation goes on like this and we can't get out [of Sittwe], we will just die. Theft has increased as many people are starving. The WFP provides 50 cans of rice per head a month, but it is not enough.

We don't want to stay here, but we can go nowhere. Roads and waterways are blockaded. We will die if we sneak out. And we can't afford to leave by plane. People forced to relocate here will starve more as time passes. If it goes on like this, [the regime] does not need to kill us; we will all die of starvation.

A Woman from Palin Pyin Village

We fished to make a living in our village. We have been forced to sell our gold items to feed ourselves as we have no jobs here. Some people opt to beg around the town for food when they have nothing to eat.

We can go nowhere and we are starving. I can't express enough how suffocated we are. Since we were relocated, we have been struggling even to eat rice every day, let alone curries.

A Man from Pyar Lae Chaung Village

The regime has been making arrests in Sittwe using various excuses. We don't feel safe even though we have done nothing wrong. We feel like we have been caged in the town, and forced to suffer hardships.

If everyone has to struggle like this, people can go wild. They will mug and steal and rob. They can't be blamed. No parents can stand the sight of their children starving. They will do whatever they can to feed them. I want something to be done to enable us to flee to other areas.