Thousands of Kyaukphyu residents facing rice shortages

By Admin 27 Nov 2023

DMG Newsroom
27 November 2023, Kyaukphyu

The grassroots in Arakan State’s Kyaukphyu are reportedly living on a subsistence diet of porridge alone as food supplies have dwindled due to the junta’s isolation of the town.

Myanmar’s military regime has not allowed drivers to pass through the Kyauk Talone checkpoint just outside the town. It has also issued an order banning water transport along the sea adjacent to the town until December 19.

As Kyaukphyu is an island town, residents rely on other townships to buy food supplies.

“We cook about 10 tins of rice per day. Now we have to eat only two tins of rice per day. I feel sad when I see hungry children,” said a woman from a family of four from Kulabartaung Ward in Kyaukphyu.

According to the 2014 census, Kyaukphyu has 17 urban wards with a population of over 30,000. About half of the population is the so-called basic class, often struggling to make a living through agriculture and fishing.

“I haven’t had enough food for four days. We can borrow money from others, but we can’t buy rice. We can only hope that people are giving food assistance to the poor like us,” said a local woman from a family of five from Kyaukphyu’s Taungyin Ward.

Local social organisations collected rice from some residents to donate to the grassroots. Two Kyaukphyu-based charities have provided five tins of rice to each family facing rice shortages since November 24.

“We collect rice to provide to those in need. We are providing five tins of rice to each family. It will not be easy for the donors to donate rice in the long run,” said Ko Kar Kar, a member of a local charity in Kyaukphyu.

He continued that social organisations and community elders in Kyaukphyu must find a comprehensive solution to the rice shortage.

The regime has detained at least 10 civilians in Kyaukphyu town, and armed junta soldiers are stationed at or patrolling near bus terminals, jetties, airports and other strategic locations. They have also been reported visiting houses at night to check if there are unregistered overnight guests.