At least 30 children sheltering in monasteries and relief camps in Sittwe, Rakhine State, have contracted dengue fever, according to residents familiar with the situation.
The outbreak has occurred in camps housing families forcibly relocated by the junta from villages in Sittwe Township to the downtown area. The infected children are currently receiving treatment at Sittwe General Hospital.
“It’s happening in monasteries now being used as shelters. Each site holds fewer than 10 people, but with three or four such camps, the number of infected children has reached over 30,” a Sittwe resident told Mizzima.
Most of those infected are under the age of 10. Locals said dengue-related deaths were also reported in Sittwe town and nearby villages in both 2023 and 2024.
Since February 2024, only about one-third of Sittwe’s original population remains in the city, as junta forces forcibly relocated ethnic Rakhine residents from at least 14 villages including Padalek, Yay Chan Pyin, and Byine Phyu into central areas of Sittwe.
Displaced families now live in overcrowded relief camps and monastery compounds under increasingly dire conditions. Food shortages, poor sanitation, and health issues are widespread.
“There are many places selling medicine, but most people can’t afford it. Paracetamol that used to cost 200 kyats now sells for 500 kyats per tablet. It’s expensive at this rate,” said another Sittwe resident.
Dengue fever, a viral illness spread by Aedes mosquitoes, spikes during the early and mid-monsoon seasons. Severe cases can lead to internal bleeding and death, particularly among children, pregnant women, and the elderly.
Despite the ongoing health crisis, the junta has not provided food or medical assistance to the forcibly displaced residents. Families are relying on limited aid from local donors and civil society groups.
Sittwe remains under junta control, but worsening food insecurity has pushed many to the brink. Local reports suggest that some families have taken their own lives due to starvation.
