Boats providing transportation services along the Sittwe-Buthidaung waterway have to load and unload both passengers and cargo in the middle of the Mayu River as there is no pier for them at Oakpho village in Arakan State’s Rathedaung Township.

The village previously had a pier, but it was damaged beyond use by flooding and has not been rebuilt for more than a year, causing inconveniences for locals.

Passengers are facing delays and greater costs to use the waterway since Oakpho village’s jetty is not operational, with residents demanding that a new pier be built.

U Kyaw Khaing, head of Oakpho village, said: “Passengers and goods are carried by a ferry boat to boats and speedboats that are anchored in the middle of the river. It is not convenient to use ferry boats when the waves become bigger during the rainy season. And passengers have to pay [an additional] K1,000 per person when they use ferry boats.”

DMG sought comment from U Hla Thein, spokesperson for the Arakan State military council, but he could not be reached as his phone was switched off.  

U Kyaw Khaing said the situation involving the damaged jetty was submitted to the relevant government department, and that he had heard a reconstruction plan has been authorised.

Ko Tun Nyein Hlaing, a resident of Buthidaung Township’s Zedi Taung village who depends on the jetty for his livelihood, said: “It would be great if we could get a [new] pier because it would be more convenient for passengers to travel. We have to use the waterway to travel to Rathedaung or Sittwe.”

Pregnant women, the elderly and children are putting themselves in potentially life-threatening situations by boarding and disembarking from boats in the middle of the river, he warned.

Oakpho village is located in the northern part of Rathedaung Township and passengers from about 20 villages in Buthidaung Township and some other villages in Rathedaung Township use the jetty to travel between Sittwe, Buthidaung and Rathedaung towns.