Food prices soar in Ann Twsp due to junta blockade and fighting

By Admin 19 Apr 2024

DMG Newsroom
19 April 2024, Ann

Food prices have shot up in Arakan State’s Ann Township as the regime has blockaded the township amid heavy fighting with the Arakha Army (AA).

Some food prices have tripled or more since January. The price of rice has increased from 3,500 kyats per pyi to over 10,000 kyats. The price of dried pepper has gone up from 20,000 kyats per viss to 80,000 kyats, and the price of cooking oil has shot up from 30,000 kyats per gallon to 80,000 kyats.

“We have had to reduce our food consumption,” said a woman from Aukywar Village in Ann Township. “We are just managing to survive. We have no job and no income. We can’t go to the clinic when we get sick. We are only waiting to die if it goes on like this.”

The regime has blockaded the Ann-Sittwe, Ann-Tettaung, Ann-Maei, and Ann-Minbu road sections in Ann Township.

“Food prices have soared further after junta troops blocked off the Ann-Minbu road. Ann has been isolated. People are surviving on what they have. We can’t buy food. People are having a difficult time,” said a resident of Ann Township.

The regime had been using roads linking Ann with Magwe for military purposes, prompting the AA to block the Ann-Padan road section for an indefinite period starting from April 2.

The AA has been conducting an onslaught on AA Township, where the Myanmar military’s Western Command headquarters is based. Clashes are happening daily as the regime has brought in warships as well as air and artillery support to defend the township.

“We lived on daily wages before the fighting. But we can’t work now as clashes are happening daily now,” said a female resident of Darletchaung.

Junta and AA troops clashed near a junta hilltop tactical command base near the village of Kazukaing in Ann Township on Friday morning. Junta battalions including Light Infantry Battalion No. 372 provided artillery support, and junta jets also provided aerial cover, said residents.