Severe medicine shortages in Maungdaw, Thandwe and Taungup

By Admin 01 Jul 2024

DMG Newsroom
1 July 2024, Sittwe

Residents have lost access to healthcare services and are facing serious shortages of medicines in Arakan State’s Maungdaw, Thandwe and Taungup townships amid heavy fighting between the Myanmar military and Arakkha Army (AA) in the state.

Hospitals and clinics are not operating in Thandwe Town, and pharmacies have also closed indefinitely, said residents.

“All the pharmacies have shut down in the town. We can still buy food from the groceries that are still open. However, we can’t buy any medicine now. We don’t even have medicines to take if we get sick,” said a Thandwe resident who remains in the town.

Many residents have fled Thandwe as the fighting has closed in on the town, but around 1,000 residents still cannot leave due to various reasons.

Meanwhile, displaced people who have fled Thandwe are facing severe shortages of food and medicine due to the junta’s travel restrictions.

The military regime has isolated Taungup Town since the first week of June.

“Some pharmacies are still open, but we can’t buy the medicines we need. People who remain in the town can barely get any healthcare services,” said a Taungup resident.

One-third of town residents remain trapped in Taungup due to the junta’s blockade.

In Maungdaw Township, medicines have also run out and Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has ceased operations.

“We can’t get any healthcare services now. And we can’t buy medicines. Patients who need emergency healthcare will be at risk,” said a resident.

The regime has been targeting healthcare facilities in AA-controlled areas with indiscriminate airstrikes. Residents said the AA is providing proper healthcare services for them despite the air raids.

Hospitals are still open in Sittwe, Ann, Kyaukphyu, Gwa and Manaung towns, which are controlled by the regime. They are barely operational, however, due to shortages of medicines and also because healthcare workers are fleeing the fighting.

The regime has blockaded roads and waterways in Arakan State since the latest fighting broke out in November, taking a heavy toll on the daily lives of local people.