Medicine shortages blamed for several deaths in Arakan State

By Admin 27 Aug 2024

DMG Newsroom
27 August 2024, Ponnagyun

At least nine people have reportedly died across Ponnagyun, Pauktaw, Kyaukphyu and Ramree townships due to medicine shortages following the junta blockades to Arakan State.

The nine people — five from Ponnagyun, two from Pauktaw and one each from Kyaukphyu and Ramree — are on a list compiled by DMG and the actual number is likely higher on the ground.

A woman with a chronic disease from Mingan Village in Kyaukphyu Township died due to a shortage of medicine, according to local residents.

“Medicine shortages followed due to the junta’s ban on transporting medicine. There is no rural hospital or doctor in Marazaing Village. It takes about 90 minutes to transport the patient to Kyaukphyu by boat. Some patients died due to the junta’s travel restrictions,” said a local resident.

Due to the shortage of medicine and the travel restrictions, local residents have many health challenges, and the number of deaths due to lack of access to timely medical treatment is increasing.

There is also a shortage of medicines on Suku Island in Ramree Township, where it is difficult to travel to other areas for medical treatment and an emergency patient reportedly died in recent days.

A man with liver disease from Sarpyin Village in Pauktaw Township died in the second week of August after he could not find the medicine he was taking regularly.

“He received medical treatment before the latest fighting in Arakan State.  The doctor gave him six months of medicine and told him to come back after six months. He was unable to see the doctor in Yangon and died in Pauktaw Township due to medicine shortages,” said a family member.

Hospitals have remained open in Sittwe, Ann, Kyaukphyu, Gwa and Manaung, which are still controlled by the regime, but residents are facing health problems due to inadequate medicine and staff fleeing the fighting.

Although hospitals and clinics have been opened in AA-controlled areas to improve the health of the people, residents are worried about going for medical treatment due to the risk of aerial bombardment by the regime.

Since the beginning of renewed fighting in November, the regime has been applying its “four cuts” strategy, and the people of Arakan State have suffered acute shortages of commodities, food and medicine.