Hundreds of locals leave Ponnagyun Twsp for jobs overseas

By Admin 26 Jul 2023

DMG Newsroom
26 July 2023, Sittwe

Hundreds of men and women in their 20s and 30s from Tawpyarchaung, part of Arakan State’s Ponnagyun Township, are leaving to work overseas in the aftermath of Cyclone Mocha.

Many acres of agricultural lands were destroyed by the storm’s May 14 landfall, prompting younger locals to seek employment in foreign countries, according to local people and social activists.

“They have lost their livelihoods after farms were damaged by the storm. It takes several years for certain types of plants to bear fruit and parts for selling. So, many have left for overseas, where they can make money immediately,” said information officer Ko Aung Kyaw Soe of the Poe Shue Pyin social organisation.

Tawpyarchaung locals mainly engage in farming, growing peppers, limes and betel, among other crops. Previously, few residents there opted for overseas work as the village was self-sufficient in terms of food production.

“Locals have lost all of their farms now. Some can’t even afford to pay the costs of translation [to pursue overseas employment opportunities], and they have pawned their houses to pay for those costs,” said U Nay Ooo Maung, the father of local resident Oo Ne Win Lwin, who has left for Thailand.

Most of the departed Tawpyarchaung workers have opted for Indonesia, China, Malaysia and Thailand, while some are preparing to work in Japan and Korea.

“All of the plantations were damaged during the storm, and it is even difficult to buy saplings now. We have not yet received any assistance from the government or international agencies. The government should also help crop farmers, like it has provided seeds to rice farmers,” said Ko Khin Maung Aye from Sinthe Village.

There are around 60 villages in the Tawpyarchaung area. More than 300 people from Poeshuepyin Village, which has over 1,000 households, and over 200 villagers from Sinthe Village, which has over 300 households, have recently left for foreign countries, residents told DMG.

“Many young people have left for foreign countries. So, we only have a few young people to help with ceremonies and funerals in the village,” said U Kan Tun Maung, the administrator of Pauktawpyin Village.

Arakan is the second poorest state in Myanmar, and many people have left in recent years due to lack of local job opportunities, high inflation, conflict and the military’s February 2021 coup.

Many Arakan State residents are illegally crossing the border to work in China, Thailand and Malaysia, according to labour rights organisations.