A struggle to afford treatment for Arakan State’s wartime injured 

By Admin 11 Dec 2023

DMG Newsroom
11 December 2023, Sittwe

Some civilians in Arakan State who were injured by junta heavy weapons or small arms fire are struggling to afford medical treatment.

Two mortar shells fired by the military’s Buthidaung-based Light Infantry Battalion No. 565 fell near Wahcheelah Village on November 27, killing three people working on a pepper farm and injuring five others.

The injured are being treated at Buthidaung Hospital. Family members said the injured would have to undergo long-term, costly medical treatment due to the severity of their injuries.

“The injured are the grassroots and make a living as daily wage workers. As family members of the injured have financial difficulties, they are being treated by donors,” said a resident of Wahcheelah Village.

U Aung Thein Phyu, a 50-year-old man from Petharpyin Village in Minbya Township who was injured in the junta shelling, is struggling to afford treatment for his injuries. He injured his back, underwent a surgery for treatment and has been discharged from the hospital, but will have to undergo further surgery.

U Aung Thein Phyu receives treatment at Mrauk-U Hospital once a week, which costs about K300,000 in travel and medical costs, said his wife, Daw Daw Bu.

“We make a living as daily wage earners. When this happens, we are in trouble. I think it will take a long time to treat him. Even for him to go to the clinic once, we are struggling because of financial difficulties,” she added.

“The prices of medicine are going up,” said U Mamoukharson, whose daughter was injured in the junta shelling of Hsingyipyin Village in Minbya Township. “I have no regular income due to fighting. As it was expensive to stay in the hospital and get treatment, she was discharged from the hospital. Her injury is still not bad, but I don’t know how long it will take to heal.”

So far at least 26 people were killed and 110 others have been injured in Arakan State and neighbouring Chin State’s Paletwa Township during the latest hostilities, according to a DMG tally.

Many of the dead and injured are low-income, posing a significant financial burden for their families.