Blockades lead to dire food situation in Ann Twsp

By Admin 23 Apr 2024

DMG Newsroom
23 April 2024, Ann

Thousands of residents in Arakan State’s Ann Township, where fighting is escalating, are suffering from food shortages, and some deaths have even been attributed to lack of nutrition.

U Tin Win, 53, and a family member from Bokechaung Village in Ann Township died on on April 22.

“They hadn’t eaten rice for two days. It is not easy for them to go to Ann to buy rice because the village is located in a remote area. They were too weak due to food shortage and died on the way,” said a social activist in Ann.

U Tin Win earned a living by cutting down bamboo, and has seven family members.

The junta has blockaded the Ann-Sittwe, Ann-Tettaung, Ann-Maei, and Ann-Minbu road sections in Ann Township. Meanwhile, the regime had been using roads linking Ann with Magwe for military purposes, prompting the AA to block the Ann-Padan road section for an indefinite period starting from April 2.

As roads are blocked due to ongoing fighting, there is a shortage of food in Ann Township and the prices of goods have soared. Some food prices have tripled or more since January. 

“Commodities have run out since the latest fighting in Arakan State. The grassroots are going hungry due to skyrocketing commodity prices,” said a local resident in Ann.

The price of rice has increased from K3,500 per pyi to over K10,000 in Ann Township. The price of dried pepper has gone up from K20,000 per viss to K80,000, and the price of cooking oil has shot up from K30,000 per gallon to K80,000.

The AA has been conducting a coordinated offensive on Ann Township, where the Myanmar military’s Western Command headquarters is based. Clashes are happening daily as the regime has brought in warships as well as air and artillery support to defend its positions in the township.