Approximately 30 villages in Kyaukphyu Township, in an area of Arakan (Rakhine) State where there has been recent heavy fighting, are struggling with severe water shortages and a lack of drinking water.
Amongst the 30 affected villages struggling with severe shortages of drinking water are: Minpyin, Yaenantaung, Wanatchwain, Sapahtar, Gangaw, Ngalonesu, Manyinchaung, Myochaungkyun, and Marazaikyun.
A woman from Minpyin Village said: “In the past, some villages in Kyaukphyu Township would face water shortages during the dry season. But this year, a lot of villages are dealing with the same issue all at once. For example, in our village, the water we store in advance usually lasts until June, but this year, it’s become muddy and no longer safe to drink.”
In villages experiencing water shortages, the focus on securing drinking water has resulted in poor hygiene practices, as less water is being used for bathing. Additionally, water rations for cattle and other livestock are being cut back.
Some people who were displaced from other areas of Kyaukphyu Township because of fighting between the Arakan Army (AA) and the junta are having to relocate again because the villages where they were sheltering are now experiencing water shortages.
A displaced person from Kyaukphyu Township said: “Earlier, our family took refuge in Sapahtar Village. But the lake they rely on for water was pretty far away. Now, the water in that lake is very low, and what's left is muddy. That's why we’ve moved to Wanatchwain Village. But we're already seeing that the water here is likely to run out soon too.”
To help combat the problem of water shortages some villages have begun enforcing strict rationing of water coming from clean water sources to ensure the most efficient use of safe drinking water.
A resident of Myochaungkyun Village said to DMG: “The arrival of displaced people has made the village use more water than usual. On top of that, the climate keeps getting hotter each year, which has made the drought even worse. Because of this, we're no longer able to store enough water, and it's causing a serious water shortage.”
Kyaukphyu Township is home to around 250 villages, but only a few have wells. Most villages rely on natural lakes for their water. Villagers build soil embankments around them so that they can collect more rainwater and act as water reservoirs during the dry season.
Every dry season, some villages in Kyaukphyu Township run out of water. Residents then have to bring back clean drinking water from other areas in trucks and boats.
