Damaged roofing rains on fishmongers’ parade at Sittwe market 

By Admin 19 Jul 2023

DMG Newsroom
19 July 2023, Sittwe 

Fishmongers in Sittwe’s central market are having difficulties as the township municipality has not yet repaired damaged roofing over the fishmongers’ corner of the market.

They have been forced to make makeshift roofs with tarpaulin sheets, and are facing difficulties amid the rainy season.

“I sell dried fish at the market. When dried fish gets wet from the rain, it has maggots. So, I have to wash and dry it under the sun. But then, the dried fish does not look good when it is washed. So, I have to sell it at lower prices,” said Daw Swe Swe Than.

Dried fish sellers say their stocks were soaked during Cyclone Mocha, which made landfall over Arakan State with destructive force on May 14. Facing that loss of capital, many have either pawned their belongings or borrowed money from private lenders to restore their business.

Making matters worse, the number of customers post-cyclone has declined as the fishmongers’ corner of the market can no longer shelter them from the seasonal rains.

“We could sell the whole day before the storm. But we are only selling in the morning now because we don’t want to get wet the whole day. As there is no roof, people don’t come and buy from us when there is heavy rain,” said fishmonger Daw Bu Ma.

Another fishmonger, Daw Aye Than Che, said: “Business has been slow since the storm. I don’t even earn enough money for a day’s meals even though I sell the whole day. People are not coming as the market is damaged.”

Ma Nwe New from Maw Leik Ward in the Arakan State capital Sittwe said: “It is not convenient to buy there. It is muddy.”

The township municipality has surveyed the damage to the fishmongers’ corner of the market, but did not provide specificity as to when it would be repaired.

DMG was unable to obtain comment from executive director Daw Khin Khin Soe of the Sittwe Township municipality.