Karenni people are concerned about a shortage of food rations due to the military council’s ban on the inflow of goods into Karenni (Kayah) State and the supply of rations for Karenni Internally Displaced People (IDPs), U Ba Nyar, a member of Karenni State Interim Executive Council (IEC) said.
The ongoing fighting has blocked transportation routes and the flow of goods to the IDPs, according to locals.
U Ba Nyar, a member of IEC said: “The situation will become worse. Food supply route is blocked. The remaining stocks have run out. International aid does not inflow as much as expected. UN agencies are no in a position to help them. I dare to say that the IDPs shall face more difficult situations in the months to come.”
There is a gradual decline in rice growing, a major staple food in Karenni state which sees widespread fighting following the coup. The remaining rice stock is going to run out, he continued.
Due to the ongoing fighting, hundreds of thousands of locals have fled to Loikaw controlled by the military council. The UN Agency is distributing food rations for the IDPs, the persons helping the IDPs said.
More than 200,000 Karenni IDPs who are taking shelter in villages and forests in Karenni state have not received aid provided by the UN Agency as aid distribution is taking place only in the areas controlled by the military council, U Banyar said.
Difficult road transportation and ban on commodity flow have resulted in higher commodity prices. Locals find it difficult to buy basic commodities, the IDPs said.
The price of rice per bag is between MMK-80,000 to over 100,000, according to locals.
The military council is stationed along Union Road in Moebye which is crucial for trade in Karenni (Kayah) state and has restricted trade flow, according to Moebye locals.
U Phoe Zaw, a person helping the IDPs said: “The military has closed Taungoo-Laketho-Yardo road for three months. Fighting takes place when the military has restricted the transport of food rations. Road blockage has worsened due to the military’s increased deployments. The situation may get worse. The rice supply route is blocked. Some rice harvested last year will run out in the long run. We have to import rice from Taungoo. IDPs may face more difficulties”.
More than 200,000 locals have fled to safer places due to the fighting in Karenni state following the coup, according to the Karenni Human Rights Group.
Sent by Kantarawaddy Times
