it is investigated from the locals that in Rakhine State, medicines are on the list of restricted items, so there is a great need for medicines after being affected by Cyclone Mokha.
During the fighting between the SAC Military and Arakan Army (AA), the SAC Military closed some roads and restricted medicines.
“Medicine has been designated as a restricted item in Rakhine since last year. As soon as they (the SAC Military) set it up, the prices of medicines in Rakhine were so high that it was difficult to buy them. In last 3 months, they reopened the roads, but the medicines were still on the restricted list. At that time, only the medicines were expensive, but it can be bought if people had money. Now because of the storm, the price is high and it is more difficult to buy. The cost of traveling to city to buy medicine is high,” said a resident of Donepipe Village.
In the last November, 2022, there was a ceasefire between the SAC Military and Arakan Army (AA), but the SAC Military restricted the transportation of goods and medicines.
“We have been affected by the storm, so we need medicine for our health. Since the beginning, if we want to transport medicine to Rakhine, the medicines were allowed to carry with a sign of the boarder affairs officer. Medicine is on the list of restricted items in Rakhine,” said an author, Wai Hin Aung.
He added that the need for medicine is urgent in the face of natural disasters and it should not continue to be considered a restricted item.
“Now, we don’t know if they will continue to restrict it or not. I don’t want to restrict it. It’s not a good idea to restrict it. Whether it’s from a human rights perspective or from a religious perspective, it has to be opened at this time,” he said.
In last May 14, the powerful Cyclone Mokha hit Sittwe, Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, Minbya, Myebon, Rathedaung, Buthidaung, Maungdaw townships in Rakhine State.
Due to the impact of Mokha storm, the 90 percent of houses, hospitals, clinic and religious buildings in Sittwe, Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, Minbya, Myebon, Rathedaung, Buthidaung, Maungdaw townships was damaged, and according to the initial estimate, hundreds of people were killed.