Chin locals living in the Yoma Mountain range along the Ann-Padan road are reportedly experiencing shortages of medicine and food due to the military council’s restrictions on entry and exit to Padan town in Magway Region.
A Chin man said local Chin communities have faced food and medicine shortages since last January, after the military council blocked access to Padan town — a key lifeline for the Chin people.
“Most of the locals on the mountain rely on Padan. They are far from Ann. They have to purchase major food supplies from Padan. Currently, there are junta columns stationed on the Padan side. Due to the junta’s ban, the main problem is a shortage of rice. We can still find curry, but access to medicine is very difficult. Even when I went to Padan Hospital because I was sick, I couldn’t get the medicine I needed. The military council imposed many restrictions. Even if someone is seriously ill, they require a medical certificate,” he said.
After the town was closed, limited movement was gradually allowed again, but starting last May, residents were once more prohibited from leaving the town to purchase more than one meal’s worth of food at a time.
Because of these restrictions, locals in villages along the mountain area between Arakan State’s Ann Township and Magway Region’s Pade town in Ngaphe Township—including Mahtone, Ka Myin Kan, Taik Zee, Za Myun, Shaung Taung, Goke Gyi, Goke Wa, Khu Su, Ye Nwe, Hlaing, and Pazi villages—are facing increasing shortages of medicine and food supplies.
A source close to the Arakan Army (AA) said that the ban imposed on villagers along the mountain is based on claims that they are affiliated with the AA and other resistance forces, and that it is being deliberately enforced to cut off their access to medical supplies.
“The military council is deliberately banning Chin and Arakanese residents from AA-controlled areas. Currently, they can freely enter and leave their villages in the AA-controlled mountain areas. For their livelihood, they sell goods in Padan and then purchase food from there,” he said.
Local residents in Padan report that Division 99, led by Brigadier General Naing Win, who is responsible for leading and protecting the Nat Yay Kan camp, has imposed restrictions on town access and the transportation of food supplies out of concern that these goods might reach the AA.
Sent by Narinjara
