July 19th, 2022
More than 6,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from 10 villages in Taungpyauk Station in Thayetchaung Township in Tanintharyi Region are likely to face a shortage of rations as the aid organizations are facing difficulty in buying rations, according to the persons who are helping the IDPs.
On July 3rd, the junta troops carried out persistent firing of heavy and light weapons into the villages in Taungpyauk Station in Thayetchaung Township, under the pretext of wiping out the local People’s Defense Forces (PDFs). Due to it, the people from Yaybyat, Malkae, Kyaukai, Winkamaw, Kywechan, Laesu, Yaypu, Byatwithar, Taungpyauktike and Thaechaunggyi villages have fled to safer places. The IDPs are facing ration difficulties, said a person helping the IDPs.
“At present, we cannot buy rations as the military council has blocked two roads. Only pro-military supporters and those who are familiar with the military can buy rice. Even now, the military doesn’t allow them to carry more than five bags of rice per house. We need to ask for the recommendation letter from Pyu Saw Htee or the administrative body in Tatkonegyi village where the junta troops are stationed,” he told the KIC.
The IDPs are unable to return to their villages till now. The military also blocks the routes to buy food rations. Among the IDPs are the elderly, the pregnant women and children, according to those who are helping the IDPs.
A local woman told the KIC: “In addition to Taungpyauk station, we can buy rice for the IDPs only when we can present the recommendation letters at the entrance and exit of Dawei. In the past, we could carry rice by three-wheeled vehicle or other vehicles. Now we cannot carry like that. We cannot buy many rice stocks even if we can show the recommendation letter.”
There is no route for the inflow of food rations into Taungpyauk Station. The IDPs have to rely only on their remaining rations. The IDPs are worried about a shortfall of rations if they cannot buy rice for a longer period of time, the aid organizations in Taungpyauk Station.
Sent by the KIC