Several areas in Tanintharyi Region are suffering from critical food shortages after the military junta blocked major transportation routes used for delivering supplies to displaced civilians. The blockade, which began in early September, has also driven up the cost of essential goods.
Aid workers report that crucial routes, including Banlaw Forest Road and Thon Taw Road, have been shut down, leaving many villages without access to basic supplies like rice and cooking oil.
In military-controlled areas, rice is being rationed, with families only allowed to buy small amounts. Prices have soared, with rice costing up to 7,500 kyats per viss, while cooking oil and eggs are also being sold at inflated prices.
Displaced civilians, especially in conflict zones, are struggling to survive as fighting between the military junta and resistance groups continues. Aid organizations are struggling to provide long-term support, leaving many at risk of starvation.
Since the military coup in 2021, over 60,000 people in Tanintharyi Region have been displaced due to escalating violence.
