Water shortages hit nearly 2,000 displaced people in Ponnagyun

By Admin 19 Jan 2026

DMG Newsroom

19 January 2026, Ponnagyun

Internally displaced people (IDPs) at the Kyantalin displacement camp in Ponnagyun Township, home to nearly 2,000 people, say they are facing severe water shortages, making it difficult to cook food and meet daily needs.

Wells dug near the displacement camp and relied on by displaced residents have been drying up since late December, leading to daily shortages of drinking water.

“Now, displaced people have been banned from fetching water from three lakes. There is one lake that was dug last year. Since we have been banned from fetching water from those lakes, we have to use small wells,” said U Maung Thein Tun from the displacement camp.

IDPs are currently relying on hand-dug wells for drinking water and have limited access to water brought from Taungnar Village, about a half-hour walk from the displacement camp.

“If there is someone to fetch water, you can drink it. But if there is no one to fetch it, you can’t. How can we do that? We just have to share and drink,” said Daw Aye Sein Yin, 50, from the displacement camp.

Ponnagyun Township is home to more than 60,000 displaced people from Sittwe, Ponnagyun, and Rathedaung townships.

There are growing concerns that water shortages will worsen during the summer, as demand for water remains high in nearly every displacement camp.