Ponnagyun faces water scarcity, women-children face skin diseases due to contaminated water

 Ponnagyun township of Rakhine State is currently facing water scarcity and the residents including women and children are facing various skin diseases due to contaminated drinking water.

A woman from Yoe Ta Yoke village, who fled because of  conflicts in Ponnagyun locality, informed Narinjara News that the minor children, middle-aged and elderly women residing in Yoe Ngu, Tha Yet Cho, Aung Phyu Pyin, Pann Nilar, Kyan Khin, Taung Nar and Kyin Ta Lin villages under Ponnagyun township are now suffering from skin ailments.

"Water is scarce here. The available muddy water is used for bathing. The children and women are particularly suffering from various skin related ailments. As they are surviving with difficulties, the skin diseases add another problem. Access to the medicine is also limited. Even a deworming pill for children costs Kyats 3,000," she added.

At least 50 villages under the township are facing water scarcity since March. The villagers are in urgent need of water supplies, said a youth who donated water.

"Every year water scarcity surfaces in Ponnagyun following the Thingyan water festival. This year many people have fled and the situation get deteriorated. If we have the manpower to assist for transportation of water it works. Now one route for donating water may cost Kyats 100,000," he added.

The residents are concerned about the issue as they may face more diseases due to consumption of contaminated water. In many villages the river saltwater has been put in drinking water ponds.

In some villages, each household has been restricted to carry only four buckets of water between 6 and 9 am, informed the residents.

The social workers have reported that the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Ponnagyun has increased to 5,000. These individuals are experiencing shortages of food items, medicines and pure drinking water and they urgently need assistance.