Junta’s water route blockade blamed for medicine shortage in Manaung

By Admin 31 Jul 2024

DMG Newsroom
31 July 2024, Manaung

There is a shortage of medicine in Manaung Township, an isolated island township in southern Arakan State where residents are not currently able to receive medical treatment.

As the regime has restricted sea travel and the transportation of goods, residents say it is difficult to get medicine and there is currently a dire shortage.

“We can’t buy medicine. Chronic patients have been short of medicine for about two months,” said a resident of Manaung.

According to the 2014 Census, Manaung had a total population of more than 57,000 from five urban wards and 36 village-tracts, and some residents are currently facing serious health problems.

Previously, a 50-bed hospital in Manaung Town had about 10 staff employees including a senior doctor, two assistant doctors and some nurses, but due to the ongoing conflict between Myanmar’s military regime and the Arakkha Army (AA), some of the health workers have fled and only one assistant doctor and four support staff remain.

“There is no medicine or doctor at the hospital. Locals face difficulties in receiving medical treatment,” said a source close to the hospital.

Residents of Manaung previously sent emergency patients to public hospitals in Thandwe and Taungup, but are currently prevented from doing so by the junta blockade of the water route. Some people suffering from chronic diseases and those unable to access emergency medical treatment have even died.

“Some patients died because they did not receive medical treatment in time. Last month, an elderly woman in the city died of diabetes. In rural areas, there are many deaths due to lack of medical treatment,” said a resident of Manaung.

Since the beginning of the latest fighting in Arakan State in November, the regime has blocked water routes and the residents of Manaung Island are facing crises in various aspects of everyday life, from food supplies to healthcare and economic affairs.

Although there are no junta battalions based in Manaung Township, junta soldiers have taken up positions in downtown Manaung and military raids have been conducted in more than 20 villages near the island town, according to local residents.