The western part of Demoso Township in Karenni (Kayah) State and the western Kayan area in Pekon Township on the border between Shan and Karenni States are suffering from fuel shortages, displaced people say.
Locals report that gasoline supplies have dried up due to road blockades imposed by the Myanmar Army following Operation 1111.
A displaced person from Hseebu area in western Kayan region said of the military council’s roadblocks, “Only Taungoo road is open. Yesterday about two or three trucks came, but we couldn’t see clearly because it was dark. But vehicles can no longer enter the Pekon area. Only the Tuangoo road is open now. There are strict controls at the Yado checkpoint. We have heard that the transportation of rice is not allowed.”
At present, villages in western Demoso and Kayan region have to buy diesel from Hseebu area at a price of 5,000 kyats per liter, and in some places the prices have reportedly risen to around 7,000 kyats.
At such prices, a household can only afford about two liters of petrol, while they are only supplied with petrol every 10 days or so, leading to fuel running out completely on some days, locals say.
Due to the fuel shortage, resistance groups and civilian IDP relief groups in Karenni State are also facing difficulties, said an IDP from the Hseebu area.
“For the resistance fighters who are traveling by car, it is very difficult to move around without fuel. It is now very difficult for them to travel by car,” he said.
In addition to the petrol shortage, the prices of other commodities have also risen sharply: a sack of ordinary rice costs 150,000 kyats, a viss of palm oil 15,000 kyats and a viss of onions 5,000 kyats, locals report.
Similarly, the military blockade in Pekon in southern Shan State has led to all petrol supplies being cut off and drying up.
The petrol shortage in Pekon is currently causing difficulties in delivering rice to the IDP camps.
Since the November 11 offensives, areas in Karenni State and Shan-Kayah border areas such as Moebye and Loikaw have not been supplied with goods, according to locals and aid workers helping displaced civilians.
Sent by NMG.