Justice Network for Political Prisoners (JNPP) said that prisoners in Kyaikmaraw Prison are facing more health problems due to restricted clean water deliveries.
The water prisoners drink in Kyaikmaraw Prison has a bad smell, contains algae and unknown substances, and white, lime-like particles stick to the large water storage containers.
Prisoners are suffering from kidney stones and kidney- related diseases because they are forced to drink unclean water and are not given enough water for daily use.
“This summer, prisoners are given only seven or eight cups of water each to bathe and wash their clothes. Before, they could buy clean drinking water, but now they are not allowed to. They are forced to drink and bathe in dirty water. This is a form of abuse,” said an official from JNPP.
Prisoners in other prisons, including Kyaikmaraw, are also facing unclean drinking water and restrictions on water use, leading to similar health problems.
Prisoners’ health conditions are worsening because they cannot receive adequate medicine and proper medical care when they fall ill in prison.
“About 80% of the prisoners in the prison are suffering from kidney stones, kidney problems, skin itching and other poor health conditions. When they get sick, the prison does not provide enough medicine, and they also do not allow medicine sent by family members. They do not provide enough water or medicine. Just as people have rights, prisoners also have rights,” a JNPP official said.
Restricting access to drinking water and adequate healthcare is a form of oppression against political prisoners and a tactic used by the military junta to discourage them from participating in future political activities.
JNPP urged the relevant authorities to ensure that prisoners in prisons have access to clean drinking water and adequate healthcare.
A study jointly conducted by PPNM and MPW found that deaths of political prisoners in 32 prisons across Myanmar have significantly increased since 2023, mainly due to a lack of adequate healthcare and torture.
