Fuel, food prices soar in Sittwe

By Admin 23 Nov 2024

DMG Newsroom
23 November 2024, Sittwe

Commodity prices including fuel continue to soar in the Arakan State capital Sittwe, which is still controlled by Myanmar's military regime, according to residents.

The price of 92 Ron Octane has jumped from 20,000 kyats per litre last month to 50,000 kyats this month.

"The fuel prices have shot up recently," said one Sittwe resident. "Cargo ships are not coming in, and fuel is now almost impossible to find."

Food prices have also continued to rise in Sittwe. The price of edible palm oil has increased from 7,000 kyats per litre to 11,000 kyats this week. Peanut oil is in short supply in the market, according to residents.

The price of pork, meanwhile, has increased from 50,000 kyats per viss (1.6 kg) to 70,000 kyats.

"How are we supposed to eat when basic food prices keep increasing?" asked a female resident of Sittwe. "We have no job, and expenses are higher than income. You can't even get a meal for 30,000 kyats [for a family] anymore."

Like other parts of the country, Arakan State has been hit by extreme inflation since the military coup in 2021. A junta blockade in response to ongoing fighting between the regime and the Arakkha Army (AA) has caused some commodity prices in Sittwe to soar tenfold compared to pre-coup levels.

The regime has blockaded Sittwe since the fighting broke out in November of last year.

Although it allows goods from Yangon to be transported to Sittwe, cargo ships are currently not entering the city, leading to severe shortages and price hikes, said residents.

One grocery store owner in Sittwe said: "The regime carries out random checks on cargo ships. I heard that some cargo ships bound for Sittwe have not yet been allowed to leave Yangon."

Sporadic clashes have been reported between the regime and the AA in Sittwe Township, though to date it has remained relatively conflict-free compared with other parts of Arakan State.