Rice supplies transported to Chin State’s Samee town from Kyauktaw

By DMG 14 Sep 2021

DMG Newsroom
14 September 2021, Paletwa 

Rice is being transported from Arakan State to Samee town in Chin State’s Paletwa Township, which is facing food shortages due to roadblocks, according to locals. 

More than 1,000 bags of rice were recently shipped from Arakan State’s Kyauktaw Township via Paletwa to residents of Samee who are facing food shortages, locals told DMG. 

“Rice is being transported privately from Arakan State to Samee town. More than 1,000 bags of rice were sent to Samee town. Only when the rice runs out will it be transported again,” said a resident who declined to be named. 

At present, there is enough food for the locals in Samee town, but they have to pay more for the rice delivered from Kyauktaw Township. 

A sack of low-grade rice typically goes for around K25,000, but locals in Samee have to pay K38,000 for it. Other food items such as cooking oil, iodised salt and onion are also more expensive than before, according to locals. 

“At present, there is enough food for the locals in Samee town. Previously, we have been facing food shortages. Consumer goods are still about twice as expensive as before,” said U Myo Zan, a resident of Samee. 

Food supplies could not be delivered to Samee as the Matupi-Mindat-Pakokku route, the main food supply route for Samee, has been closed. 

A truck travelling to Samee was set on fire between Matupi and Samee in August, and the Myanmar military subsequently blocked the route, making it difficult for trucks to pass, locals said. 

Samee has been facing food shortages for almost a month due to roadblocks on the way to the town. Locals have reportedly consulted with officials from the township General Administration Department to transport food items from Kyauktaw to Samee via Paletwa, seeking permission from the military.