Lack of Garbage Collection Causing Health Problems in Rakhine State  

Narinjara News, December 21, 2022

The lack of regular garbage collection, and fetid smell emanating from the garbage heaps, has increased health problems for residents of Rakhine State.

Even in Sittwe, the capital of the state, there is an unsightly piling up of garbage in the city’s neighborhoods ,because of the lack of proper disposal and storage systems.

 A Sittwe resident told Narinjara, “ In the city garbage dumps are becoming unsightly. The huge garbage dump near Balu Ma Bridge makes pedestrians want to vomit. The situation is the same in other neighborhoods and markets. Garbage bins are not available in many places. In places with bins, people don’t dispose of garbage properly. Garbage is often overflowing with a horrible smell. ”

A local from Sat Yoe Kya (Rescue) ward No. 2 in Sittwe said that the bad smell of garbage has negative effects on the health of the people living in the neighborhood.

“The neighborhood does not empty the rubbish bins. There are many houses around there. Children in the vicinity became sick one by one due to the smell of garbage,”

Similarly, in Mruak-U, the ancient capital of Rakhine, with the increase in the number of pilgrims during the winter season, there is also more garbage, so locals want the relevant officials to make the garbage collection process more systematic, a member of Mrauk-U Youths Association said.

 “We want the government municipal departments and trustees to take the lead and enforce rules in this matter. There are situations in which social organizations like us, cannot clear garbage in the creeks. Therefore we would like the relevant authorities to set a budget, and prioritize the cleaning of streams and creeks,” he explained.

He added that in order to solve the garbage problem, people need to dispose of garbage properly, and the authorities need to collect it effectively.

Narinjara contacted the Rakhine State Development Committee over the phone regarding this matter but was unable to get in touch.

 Other townships in Rakhine are also facing a serious garbage problem not only in the towns’ wards but also in the rural areas, which has a negative effect on the environment and the health of the local residents. In order to respond to these challenging situations, it is necessary to develop systematic waste collection systems and awareness, locals urged.