Manaung residents hit hard by junta blockade

By Admin 03 Jan 2026

DMG Newsroom

3 January 2026, Manaung

Residents of Manaung Township, which remains under Myanmar’s military control in Arakan State, are facing daily disruptions to their lives due to a blockade imposed by the Myanmar Navy.

A local man from Manaung said the military regime has restricted residents’ freedom of movement and allowed only limited imports of basic goods.

“Locals cannot travel off the island on their own. Even if they want to order goods, it takes about three months to get permission from the Myanmar Navy. Meanwhile, the cargo ship arrives only once a month, and sometimes it does not arrive for three months. So, it is not convenient at all,” he said.

On Manaung Island, the prices of basic medicines have skyrocketed, with paracetamol costing up to K4,000 per tablet and Enervon-C up to K3,000 per capsule.

Locals said the prices of other basic medicines have also risen sharply, while the presence of only one doctor has made access to healthcare difficult.

A trader said goods are imported to Manaung Island via Yangon, with transportation fees calculated based on weight, driving up prices.

“If you want to ship something from Yangon to Manaung Island, you first need permission from the government. Once the goods are approved, they must be weighed and paid for. If unloading costs K2 million, loading costs about K2 million as well. That is why the prices of goods have increased,” he said.

Residents also face travel difficulties due to restrictions imposed by the military regime. In the event of health problems, they must obtain a doctor’s recommendation, a recommendation from the ward or village administrator, a police station recommendation, a copy of the household certificate, and permission from the General Administration Department office to travel to the mainland.

As residents must wait months to receive a permit from the General Administration Department, they face serious difficulties in dealing with emergency health issues.

Rice and seafood produced on Manaung Island cannot be exported to other regions, creating hardships for the agriculture and fishing sectors.

Locals said the inability to operate transportation services has made socio-economic conditions increasingly difficult.

“There are many people trying to leave their jobs, whether in Yangon or abroad, because they are not comfortable doing anything and prices are rising. Some people who are close to the military are travelling with them on warships,” said a local youth.

The military regime has restricted communication, travel and trade on Manaung Island for nearly two years, leading to a steady deterioration of local socio-economic conditions.

The deployment of large numbers of troops and warships around Manaung Island has caused residents to face various difficulties amid the ongoing blockade.