The fuel crisis in Karenni (Kayah) State worsens as prices hit a record MMK 10,000 per liter.

Severe fuel shortages have caused skyrocketing prices, severely disrupting local livelihoods and bringing emergency relief operations to a near halt.

Previously priced around 3,500 MMK per liter, petrol in Karenni State has surged to 8,000 MMK in Demoso and Mobye towns. In Bikin Village, Pekon Township, it has reached 10,000 MMK per liter.

In remote, hard-to-reach areas like Mawchi, fuel shortages are so severe that no one will sell even at exorbitant prices.

“Fuel prices have gone up sharply, and there’s just not enough fuel. Because of this, almost all emergency relief work has come to a halt, and even essential travel in emergencies has become very difficult. This is hitting people’s daily lives really hard. We’re very worried that rising fuel and rice prices will push up the cost of other goods too, leaving people in financial trouble—and for those already losing hope, it could even drive them to harm themselves,” said Ma Mu Se, director of Kyetetmyay, a social and political activist group based in Karenni State.

Military and political crises, along with fuel shortages triggered by global conflicts, have combined to make the fuel shortage in Karenni State the worst yet, according to U Banyar, secretary of the Interim Executive Council of Karenni State (IEC).

“The fuel we need in Karenni State mostly comes from Thailand. But now that Thai authorities have stopped exporting fuel, we can’t rely on them anymore. Getting fuel from the mainland is also very difficult because of road safety issues and other problems, which has led to severe shortages here,” he told NMG.

Currently, the fuel available in Karenni State comes only from nearly depleted stockpiles, and importing new fuel from the border or mainland has become extremely difficult.

Fighting in Hpasawng Township in February destroyed the Thanlwin River, Htuchaung, and Punchaung bridges, severely disrupting fuel transport and trade in Karenni State.

“Petrol prices have shot up to shocking levels over the past two days, now over 8,000 MMK per liter. Even so, hardly anyone is willing to sell. Fuel is in short supply everywhere, which is why prices have gone through the roof,” said a resident of western Demoso Township.

The ICE announced that it is closely monitoring the fuel shortage, which is severely disrupting public travel, daily life, and the flow of goods, and said it is exploring all possible solutions.