People In Maungdaw South in Arakan State have been facing difficulties in travelling and finding food since 26 June when heavy rains and high tides destroyed bridges and paddy seedlings, according to Maungdaw South villager Jaker.
He said: “The heavy rains and high tides destroyed roads, homes, shrimp farms, and paddy seedlings.”
According to villagers, the bridges at Gawyah Khali,Shara Para (Pa Nyaung Pingyi), Kila Dong ( Du Chee Yartan) and others under the Burmese Border Guard Police (BGP) area No. 8, were damaged by heavy rains and high tide water. Instead of crossing rivers and streams using bridges the villagers are having to use row boat ferries that charge high fares.
Hasan a villager said: “The villagers have to pay Kyat 1,000 to cross the river with goods, but a single man has to pay Kyat 100 to cross by row boat.”
According to Hassan there is also a new road which was recently built and is good for travel, but the authorities are not allowing Rohingyas to use it.
According to sources, the local authority has not yet taken any steps to rebuild the Gora Khali bridge or any of the other bridges.
A daily labor told the Kaladan Press Network on condition of anonymity: “We are now facing starvation because work is scarce in those areas."
Many poor people are also suffering and having difficulty surviving because they are unable to travel to work elsewhere, said another farmer.
Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI
