Abandoned paddy fields damaged by cattle in conflict-hit villages of Rathedaung, Maungdaw townships

By DMG 26 Aug 2022

DMG Newsroom
26 August 2022, Rathedaung

Hundreds of acres of paddy fields owned by residents of Arakan State’s Rathedaung and Maungdaw townships, who have fled their homes due to recent fighting between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army (AA), are reported to be damaged.

As a result of the fighting, residents from eight villages in Rathedaung and Maungdaw townships are facing difficulties replanting paddy fields and weed grass in the paddy fields, and were forced to flee the fighting.

“There are at least 450 acres of paddy fields in Cheinkhali, Koetankauk and Kyantaingaung village-tracts. Some of them had to let the cattle go like this, so now some of the paddy fields are being eaten by the cattle,” said a resident of Cheinkhali village who declined to be named.

Hundreds of residents from Donpaik, Hsinpaik, Cheinkhali, Koetankauk and Kyantaingaung villages had to leave their paddy fields and flee to safety due to fighting that took place near Donpaik village in Rathedaung Township on August 13.

More than 1,500 residents of six villages in Rathedaung Township have fled to safer locations after the Myanmar military clashed with the Arakan Army recently and many of the IDPs are reportedly taking shelter in Thayetchaung, Aungseik, Minphue, Norway and Thanchaung villages, according to aid workers.

Those who fled the fighting do not know when they will be able to return home, and are worried that their abandoned paddy fields will be unsalvageable.

“This year, farmers have spent more money on cultivation than last year due to the drought and the rise in fuel prices,” said an unnamed resident of Kyaukpandu village in Maungdaw Township.

There are more than 200 acres of paddy in Donpaik village, Rathedaung Township, and a lot of damage is caused by cattle entering and grazing in these fields, the villagers said.

“Some displaced people returned home. When they visited their paddy fields, only a quarter of the paddy plants remained because the cattle had eaten them,” said an elder of Donpaik village.

Many of the displaced are sheltering at relatives’ homes or in the monasteries of nearby villages, said Ko Aung Min Soe, who is assisting the IDPs.

“The displaced people are currently taking refuge at their relatives’ homes and monasteries in 13 villages. Some IDPs returned to their villages to feed their cattle amid the military tensions,” he said.

The United League of Arakan (ULA), the political wing of the Arakan Army, has appealed to international and local nongovernmental organisations, civil society groups, local charities and the public to provide relief items to IDPs in need.