Over 10,000 residents in Ann Twsp suffer from junta food embargo

By DMG 23 Nov 2022

DMG Newsroom
23 November 2022, Ann

More than 10,000 local people from Darletchaung Village-tract in Ann Township are facing food shortages and rising food prices as the Myanmar military has imposed a ban on food supplies into the area.

Locals purchase food supplies from Myebon Township and Kanhtaunggyi town that are transported by both road and water routes. The Myanmar military regime blocked off the primary waterway for transporting food supplies on October 13, however, and blockaded the main road link on November 1, according to residents.

“They blocked the waterway first. While locals were badly struggling to bring in food supplies by road, they also blocked off the road,” said a resident of old Darlet Village who asked for anonymity.

The prices of remaining food stocks including rice, cooking oil and onion have nearly doubled due to the blockade, said a resident of Darlet (North) Village.

“When they blockaded the waterway, a sack of rice containing two baskets of rice rose from K18,000 to K23,000. The price has further increased to K30,000 now. We can’t bring in any food from outside. Only people can travel, and food supplies are not allowed,” he said.

Locals also have to seek permission from junta troops deployed near Kazukaing Village if they want to sell products from their villages. Most locals in Darletchaung Village-tract earn a living by farming, as well as selling firewood and bamboo.

Locals must pass through three junta checkpoints if they are to travel to Kanhtaungyi or Myebon by road, and they have to clear one junta checkpoint at Kazukaing Village if they are travelling by boat. Those checkpoints enforce the ban on food shipments, according to local people.

Starvation among local populations will be the outcome if the ban is not lifted soon, warned a resident of Alel Kyun Village.

“We have had a poor crop harvest this year. If they continue to ban supplies of food, we will not only face high prices, but starvation,” said the villager.

Darletchaung Village-tract is made up of some 48 villages, with a total population of more than 12,000 people.

DMG was unable to obtain comment from junta spokesman Major-General Zaw Min Tun about the junta ban on food supplies into Darletchaung Village-tract.