Border News Agency
Sittwe, September 28.

Residents of Sittwe said that because aid to war-affected refugees in the city, controlled by the junta’s military, is restricted, most refugees including manual laborers are struggling to meet basic needs and many are forced to beg for food and necessities.

Residents said that across the rural areas of Sittwe Township, civilians have been forced to relocate under harsh conditions, while town residents are effectively trapped, living in severe restrictions.

Residents also reported that prices for basic food items such as rice, cooking oil, salt, meat, vegetables, and fish have surged, with a single bundle of charcoal now reaching around 50,000 kyats.

Residents of Sittwe said that, as a result, most refugees and manual laborers are struggling to meet basic needs, with many facing extreme hardship and having to beg for food and necessities.

A resident of Sittwe told Border News Agency, “The aid workers can only do so much. People are surviving on very little. Sometimes they have to eat rice with just a pinch of salt. Occasionally, young girls come to us, saying they haven’t even eaten their meal yet. There are many people in this situation, and in the town itself, a large number of residents are also living in extreme poverty.”

Residents said that people living in Sittwe are struggling with food shortages due to limited employment opportunities. They reported that the price of a bag of rice has risen above 200,000 kyats, a viss (1.6kg) of meat or fish costs nearly 100,000 kyats, a bundle of firewood for a single meal is around 5,000 kyats, and a viss of green chilies exceeds 60,000 kyats.

A war-affected refugee in Sittwe told reporters, “No one has a job, so everyone is struggling to survive. Even the little we have, we try to make it last. The hardships affect everyone. Because there is no work, life is very difficult. I can’t even afford to buy green chilies for 1,000 kyats, and some of us haven’t had any chilies for a month.”

War-affected refugees said that although some people can work at the port in Sittwe, not everyone has that opportunity—only those connected to the military commission or its affiliates are allowed. Other employment options are unavailable.

The refugees also said that they are living only in Buddhist monasteries in Sittwe, and children, women, and the elderly face numerous hardships in their daily lives.

The war-affected refugees said that they are confined to the monasteries and are not allowed to move freely to other towns or areas, leaving them even more vulnerable to extreme hardship and insecurity.

A female war-affected refugee said, “We’ve been starving for five to six months now without receiving any aid at all. We have to beg from others, and if no one can give us anything, we go hungry. That’s how we’ve been living. Even though we’re starving here, we’re not allowed to go to other townships or visit relatives for help.”

Residents said that the military commission not only withholds aid from people trapped in Sittwe but also restricts international humanitarian organizations from providing assistance.

A Sittwe resident close to international aid groups said, “The government has also imposed restrictions. Schools receive very little support, and not consistently. They also prevent foreign organizations from providing assistance.”

Those who remain in Sittwe are primarily people who cannot afford to leave, individuals connected to the military commission, and residents who are tightly controlled by the commission within the city.

Residents said that some families are facing such severe food shortages that members are dying alone or together, and more women are being forced to take on informal labor to survive.