Interview
Border News Agency
Sittwe, October 3.

“Medicines are not even available at the hospitals. Because transportation is blocked, it has become very difficult.”

“When it comes to medicine, those who can afford it are fine. But for those who can’t, they just end up dying.”

“In the Kalar villages too, there are no medicines available. I’ve been there myself, and in those villages…”

“They are transporting goods only by two means—ships and planes.”

“As for ships, they come only occasionally, maybe four or five at a time. But planes arrive every day.”

“Since the prices are so unfairly high, people are just eating barely enough to survive.”

“The poor can’t afford to buy food. The main items in that market are betel nut, green chilies, djenkol beans, and lemons.”

“There are also so many beggars on the streets.”

“A sack of Paw San Hmwe rice now costs 240,000 kyats.”

“A sack of 30-day rice costs 140,000 kyats, while the smaller yellow rice is nearly 100,000 kyats.”

“As for those staying at the monasteries… organizations are providing them with assistance.”

“I don’t know exactly which organizations, I haven’t asked. But I do know that they are providing help.”

“Right now in Sittwe, most of the local people are living as war refugees.”