CNI News
30 Nov 2022
Despite a ceasefire between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army, medical supplies to Rakhine State, according to medicine traders in the state.
Although trade routes between northern and southern Rakhine have been reopened, medical supplie cannot be transported to Rakhine State as the trade routes between Yangon and Sittwe have not reopened yet, a medicine trader told the CNI.
He said, "Authorities have not announced the reopening of roads yet. Sittwe-Yangon Road has not reopened. Roads and waterways between Buthidaung and Maungdaw have been reopened. I think they will reopen routes for themselves. Medical supplies have been prohibited even before the road blockades. It was said that they had reopened routes. We still can't transport medicines from Yangon. All medicines are still prohibited. Some people have to transport medicines hidden in other goods."
Although medicine traders have applied for medicine transportation permits from the Rakhine State Government through the Rakhine State Chamber of Commerce, the regional government has not responded to the request. Chairman of the Rakhine State Chamber of Commerce told the CNI that they would discuss the issue with the regional government after trade routes between Yangon and Sittwe have been reopened.
A medicine fair during the COVID-19 outbreak. (CNI)
He told the CNI, "We are desperately running out of medicines at the moment because roads are closed. Medicines are transported to Rakhine State by roads. Even if roads are reopened, we will have to wait and see how authorities will handle the transportation of medicines. Only after roads have been reopened will we discuss the issues with authorities. It was said that roads to Kyauktaw had been reopened but I am not sure of anything. What is certain is that no freight truck has arrived in Sittwe. We will be able to bring in medicines to Sittwe only after roads have been reopened."
Medical supplies to Rakhine State have been prohibited since 20th September, 2022 and local residents have run out of medicines.
Although some medicines are still available, it is difficult to buy them, U Soe Naing, a Mrauk-U resident, told the CNI.
He said, "Medicines are not as available as before. However, prices have skyrocketed. It is difficult to buy some important medicines like those for heart disease. Waterways have been reopened but there are checkpoints along roads. Some routes are limitedly open, like allowing people to travel beginning from 10 am. It is still very difficult to travel to Sittwe."
After the military and the AA reached a ceasefire deal on 26th November, 2022, some roads and waterways were reopened on 27th November but there are still checkpoints along the routes and routes to Kyauktaw are open from 10 am to 5 pm, according to local residents.
