Residents of Ohntaw and Gonechon villages in Kyaukphyu Township, Arakan (Rakhine) State, are facing severe food shortages because junta troops have encircled the villages and imposed tight blockades.
The blockades have been ongoing for the last four months. The junta first set them up in February when the junta and the AA started fighting, which is still ongoing, in Kyaukphyu Township. The junta has been severely limiting the flow of food into the two villages and restricting the villagers’ movements.
The blockades have caused the price of food and basic goods to soar in the two villages, leaving the poorest of villagers suffering because they can no longer afford food or essentials.
A resident of Gonechon Village said: “The impact of the blockades is huge. It’s the poor families, especially those who depend on daily wage jobs, who are suffering the most. Some of them can’t even afford to eat three proper meals a day anymore. Kids and the elderly are really struggling with malnutrition. Food prices have gone through the roof, and even if you have the money, there just isn’t enough food available to buy.”
Gonechon, a village of about 900 households, is about 6.5 km (about four miles) from Kyaukphyu Town and about 1.5 km (about a mile) from the junta’s (LIB) Light Infantry Battalion 542 base.
Ohntaw a village of about 700 households is about 9.5 km (about six miles) from Kyaukphyu Town and about 1.5 km (about a mile) from the junta’s Police Battalion 32 base.
Currently, junta soldiers and police are closely monitoring both villages, and residents are prohibited from leaving the villages.
A resident of Ohntaw Village said: “Because of the junta’s tight watch, we villagers don’t dare to go anywhere. Actually, we can’t go anywhere. Even going into the nearby forests to gather wild vegetables feels too dangerous because of landmines. There have been cases where people were killed by them. Even though some want to go to Kyaukphyu Town, none of us dare to because everyone is afraid of being arrested by the soldiers. If things continue like this, our entire village could end up starving.”
Since November 2023, when fighting resumed in Arakan State following the collapse of a ceasefire between the junta and the AA, the junta has blockaded all land and waterway routes into Kyaukphyu Town, the seat of Kyaukphyu Township.
Currently in Kyaukphyu Township, fighting is also ongoing in: Kyaukphyu Town; Sittaw and Simaw villages near to the junta’s Danyawaddy naval base; and in and around the villages of Malakyun, Mintattaung, Nham Phae Taung, and Pyaing Sae Kay which are all close to the Police Battalion 32 base.
