Locals and water distributors have said that people in all of Mon State’s 10 townships are facing shortages of water, some for two months.
People in Mudon, Thanbyuzayat, Kyaikmayaw, Chaungzon, Paung, Thaton, Belin, Kyaikhto and Ye have had to buy water for daily usage; shortages are also being felt in the capital, Mawlamyine, though not as severely as in rural areas.
“We have faced water shortages every year. This year is really bad,” Tun Kyi, who lives in Mudon Township, told NMG. “The whole village is facing a shortage this year. We’ve had to buy water. Some donors have come and donated water to our village.”
The Mon United Party, Mon Youth Organization, firefighters, civil society, and local volunteers have been distributing water to villages throughout Mon State. The cost of transport ranges from 5,000-10,000 kyat but is dependent on distance and the amount of water.
Dr. Aung Naing Oo, a state parliamentarian for Chaungzon, said that the Mon community has been the major provider in his township, and have installed pipelines from existing water sources.
According to Mon State’s department of rural development, villages in Thaton, Belin, Paung and Kyaikmayaw townships have requested support from the government, which has reportedly responded and distributed water to those in need.
The department is still taking requests from villagers lacking water, and the municipal department, department of firefighting, and civil society and volunteers are preparing to distribute more water as the drought continues.
