- Web Master
- September 25, 2024
Hnin Nwe Ni, Narinjara News, 25 June 2024
The military regime claimed that 39,898 bags of rice were dispatched to Sittwe
on 17 June for the rehabilitation of Arakan State. But in reality, the Sittwe
residents are suffering from starvation and many beggars are now seen wandering
various areas, said local residents.
"They asked me for a can of rice or maybe half a can. I don't know which
villages 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-pyi
bags of rice from the social welfare relief & resettlement ministry for the
rehabilitation program in Arakan State. A large volume of solid fuel and
relief materials were ordered by the Arakan State government totalling 2,038.44
tons were transported by vessels from Yangon to Sittwe on 17 June.
“This is propaganda by the military junta. It is an
act of deceiving the people of Myanmar. The military junta is spreading
propaganda through their own media outlets to make people believe that they are
supporting the Arakanese people. But on the ground, the poor families are starving. They have
received no assistance,” said a Sittwe politician.
He also mentioned that in Sittwe, the capital of Arakan State under the
military regime, people are starving due to lack of employment
opportunities and a number of individuals are wandering and begging for food
items.
Most of the town's population fled due to fears of
potential fighting, resulting in the closure of the Myoma market, stores,
restaurants, shops in wards and private offices and thus the entire economic
structure collapsed.
"Even if I spend all day searching for work on my
bicycle, there is no job available. If I try to work as a labourer, there
is no possibility as the markets are closed now. The Sittwe residents are
already 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 begging
while others will go for stealing. They can't bear hunger any more and
they have children to feed. They also cut down trees for selling," added
the woman resident.
The junta forces have imposed strict prohibitions on residents from fleeing
Sittwe to other Arakanese townships. As a result, there remains no job
available for them and thus they are facing severe difficulties.