Food prices skyrocket over past year of conflict in Arakan State

By Admin 13 Nov 2024

DMG Newsroom
13 November 2024, Mrauk-U

Food prices have increased nearly ninefold in some cases since Myanmar’s military regime imposed a blockade on Arakan State following renewed hostilities with the Arakkha Army (AA) that began on November 13 of last year, according to residents.

The price of onions jumped from 1,700 kyats per viss before the fighting to 15,000 kyats; garlic from 4,700 kyats per viss to 40,000 kyats; a can of seasoning powder from 700 kyats to 4,000 kyats; and a pack of instant coffee from 6,500 kyats to 25,000 kyats.

The prices of other foodstuffs and consumables including pepper, cheroot, instant noodle, detergent powder, sugar, dried cakes and so on have also increased dramatically, said residents.

“Food prices soared whenever dollar value and transportation costs increased, and they only keep increasing. With our incomes slashed due to various factors, we can’t keep up with rising commodity prices. Poor people are getting poorer,” said a housewife from Mrauk-U Town.

Soaring food prices have been taking a heavy toll on residents in Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, Minbya, Myebon, Rathedaung, Buthidaung, Ramree, Pauktaw, Thandwe and Maungdaw townships. Most locals have been forced to reduce their food consumption.

Meanwhile, many residents have lost their sources of livelihood due to the conflict.

“I earn around 20,000 kyats a day from my job,” said U Tun Tha Hla, a three-wheeled taxi driver in Kyauktaw Town. “But we are a four-member family, and it costs more than 20,000 kyats to feed them. My wife does not have an income. We can’t think of eating good dishes, and are struggling to eat three meals a day.”

The AA has instructed that food be sold at set prices in some of the townships it controls. But the order is rarely obeyed, said residents.

One displaced woman from Ponnagyun Township said: “The AA has set 30,000 kyat for a viss of pork and beef. It has also set the prices of other food. But they are sold at higher prices in the market. The AA still can’t properly regulate it.”

The regime has cut off trade routes with Arakan State since the latest fighting began. Residents now rely on goods that come from India’s Mizoram through Paletwa, Chin State, and Saw Town in Magwe Region.

One merchant from Arakan State said: “We have to bring in goods from wherever available. Transportation costs are high, and the route is long and not safe, and sometimes we lose our goods. Sometimes we get arrested, so we can’t sell them at fixed prices.”

The AA has seized Buthidaung, Rathedaung, Pauktaw, Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, Minbya, Myebon, Ramree, and Thandwe townships in Arakan State, plus Paletwa Township in neighbouring Chin State, since launching its offensive in November 2023.

Fighting has also been raging in Maungdaw, Ann, Taungup and Gwa townships.