Hnin Nwe Ni, Narinjara News, 25 June 2024

The military regime claimed that 39,898 bags of rice were dispatched to Sittweon 17 June for the rehabilitation of Arakan State. But in reality, the Sittweresidents are suffering from starvation and many beggars are now seen wanderingvarious areas, said local  residents.

"They asked me for a can of rice or maybe half a can. I don't know whichvillages they came from. I gave as much as I could. They came with children.They talked about their difficulties,” said a female resident of Sittwe.

According to the military-owned newspapers, the regime sent 39,898 24-pyibags of rice from the social welfare relief & resettlement ministry for therehabilitation program in Arakan State. A large volume of  solid fuel andrelief materials were ordered by the Arakan State government totalling 2,038.44tons were transported by vessels from Yangon to Sittwe on 17 June.

“This is propaganda by the military junta. It is anact of deceiving the people of Myanmar. The military junta is spreadingpropaganda through their own media outlets to make people believe that they aresupporting the Arakanese people. But on the ground, the poor families are starving. They havereceived no assistance,” said a Sittwe politician.

He also mentioned that in Sittwe, the capital of Arakan State under themilitary regime,  people are starving due to lack of employmentopportunities and a number of individuals are wandering and begging for fooditems.

Most of the town's population fled due to fears ofpotential fighting, resulting in the closure of the Myoma market, stores,restaurants, shops in wards and private offices and thus the entire economicstructure collapsed.

"Even if I spend all day searching for work on mybicycle, there is  no job available. If I try to work as a labourer, thereis no possibility as the markets are closed now. The Sittwe residents arealready struggling even without a conflict,”  said another resident.

A woman informed  that due to livelihood crises,some residents are demolishing uninhabited houses and selling them as firewood.

"When they're hungry, some may resort to beggingwhile others will go for stealing.  They can't bear hunger any more andthey have children to feed. They also cut down trees for selling," addedthe woman resident.

The junta forces have imposed strict prohibitions on residents from fleeingSittwe to other Arakanese townships. As a result, there remains  no jobavailable for them and thus they are facing severe difficulties.