Fuel shortages force motorbike sidecar drivers to suspend services

By Admin 18 Dec 2023

DMG Newsroom
18 December 2023, Sittwe

Some motorcycle sidecar drivers are facing livelihood hardships as they have ceased operations due to fuel shortages triggered by junta road blockades in Arakan State.

Currently, 92 Ron Octane is selling for 30,000 per litre in Arakan State and petrol can’t be bought easily. Motorbike sidecar drivers say the skyrocketing fuel prices have forced them to call it quits for now.

“We make a living as motorbike sidecar drivers. Now we have become unemployed and have to borrow money from others and social organisations to buy food items,” said a motorbike sidecar driver in Kyaukphyu.

Motorbike sidecar drivers have been looking for odd jobs to make a living, but they are unable to find work as many businesses have stopped operations during the latest fighting.

The regime has detained some locals in Kyaukphyu for violating a ban on people entering or leaving the island town.

“We earn a living as motorbike sidecar drivers. We halted operations due to fuel shortages. We face livelihood hardships as we cannot find work. It will not be easy for us in the long run,” said Ko Aung Lwin, a motorbike sidecar driver in Minbya.

Since the beginning of renewed fighting on November 13, the military regime has blocked road and water routes to Arakan State for more than a month. Local residents, human rights activists and the United Nations are among those calling for a lifting of the blockade.

Shortages of food, medicine and fuel are reported and commodity prices are skyrocketing in Arakan State as a result of the junta blockades.

“We are struggling to make ends meet as we make a living as motorbike sidecar drivers. My friend gave me a sack of rice. I don’t know how to search for rice when this rice bag runs out,” said U Nyi Zaw, a motorbike sidecar driver in Sittwe.

The regime is accused of targeting civilians who are not involved in the fighting in Arakan State using heavy weapons and small arms fire, and burning homes and food stocks.