Due to the ongoing fighting between the Arakan Army (AA) and junta troops, the military junta has blocked the trade routes into Rakhine State since November 13th, and the prices of fuel and basic food items have risen exponentially.
According to a housewife who lives in Mrauk-U Township, she is currently paying about MMK 18,000 per liter of fuel (92 octane) in Mrauk-U Township, and due to the rising price of fuel, the prices of other goods are also up.
“A bag of rice is MMK 180,000, and a viss of edible oil is MMK 20,000. We have any vegetables to eat because they come from outside. Potatoes either. Ginger is around MMK 10,000 per viss. Chilli is MMK 25,000 to 45,000 per viss,” he explained.
A resident of Sittwe said that due to the military junta’s blockade of the routes into Rakhine State, the importing of goods from other regions (mainland) has stopped completely, and they are consuming only the vegetables from the local villages.
“In the past, fuel was only around MMK 3,000 per liter of 92. Today, it is around MMK30,000 in Sittwe. From the 13th day of the blockage, the price has gradually increased day by day,” he said.
Due to the increase in the price of fuel, it is difficult for those who drive motor sidecars and those who drive three-wheelers (Tok Tok in local trem) to make a living. Similarly, with the increase in the price of basic food items, it is difficult for the locals living in Rakhine State to make a living.
“Mostly, there are a lot of manual laborers in Sittwe. When fuel prices go up, those who drive sidecars and three-wheelers have to work hard to buy a liter of fuel. The money they earn has to buy one liter of fuel, and there is nothing left in the morning. I have heard that some of them have lost their minds and committed suicide,” he said.
Due to the blocking of the roads leading into Rakhine State, the prices of basic consumer goods and food items have risen exponentially, but the prices are slightly lower in the towns close to Bangladesh.
“I heard that the price fell again in Maungdaw today. Today, 92 octane is MMK 8,000 per liter. The roads on the other side of the regions are closed, but I heard that it is importing from Bangladesh in various ways,” said a resident in Rakhine State.
According to cargo operators in Yangon, officials will re-open the roads leading into Rakhine State, and only when the situation is safe and secure will the goods trade resume.