Inhabitants of about 30 villages in the mountains of Kyaingtong (Kengtung) Township in eastern Shan State are going hungry due to a shortage of rice.

The shortages started after the villages were hit by flash floods and landslides in September 2024.

Their situation has worsened since the beginning of January 2025 because plagues of rats have been eating and spoiling what little rice the villagers had managed to stockpile, according to Dr. Nang Mar Lar Wan who has taken it upon herself to supply healthcare to the mountain communities.

She said: “This year, rats have been rampant, causing severe crop losses for the villagers. Some have lost everything, while others have managed to harvest just enough to survive. With little money, buying food is not an option for them. After the floods and landslides, the rat population surged, heavily impacting the locals.”

Villagers who currently do not have enough rice are having to rely on fruits, pumpkins, and taro. The villagers are in urgent need of assistance, according to Dr. Nang Mar Lar Wan.

She said: “Only a few well-off individuals can afford to buy rice. Some are substituting pumpkins and taro for rice, while others borrow rice from village elders. Some locals also request rice as payment for the work they do.”

Some mountain villages in Mongping Township, the township to the west of Kyaingtong Township, have also been experiencing rice shortages as rats are destroying their rice whilst it is still growing in the paddy fields.

Dr. Nang Mar Lar Wan said: “This year, the situation is even worse. Mongping [Township] has been hit hard by the rat problem as well. Patients from there have come to my clinic and shared their struggles.”

About 30 villages in the mountains of Kyaingtong Township are suffering from rice shortages. They are about 40 Km from Kyaingtong Town and very remote and hard to access due to the poor quality of the roads. They also have no electricity or phone lines.

Most of them are impoverished and rely on terrace farming for their food.