CNI News

6 Dec 2022

As the Kyauktaw-Paletwa waterway has been reopened since 3 Dec, rice and commodity prices have dropped in Paletwa, according to residents.

Although the waterway has been reopened, small boats have not been allowed to use the waterway and authorities are just operating state-owned z-craft twice a week, Paletwa resident U Aung Aung Khin told the CNI.

He told the CNI, "A few days ago, rice price rose to MMK 100,000 per bag but rice was not available. We could not buy rice anywhere. Now, rice is available at MMK 71,000 per bag at present. Rice consumed here is not the first class Pawsanhmwe, which is popular in lower parts of the country. We consume second class Pawsanhmwe here. Fuel supply has arrived but fuel prices have dropped. It still costs MMK 20,000 or 21,000 to buy a gallon of fuel."

As fighting had resumed between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army, the waterway were shut down as of August but the waterway has been reopened after the two sides reached a ceasefire deal on 26th November, 2022.

A z-craft operating along Kyauktaw-Paletwa waterway.

U Aung Aung Khin told the CNI, "The waterway has been reopened. A vessel arrived at Paletwa on Saturday and went back to Kyauktaw on Sunday. Authorities said the vessel will arrive in Paletwa on Tuesday again. They said they would operate the vessels twice a week. When the vessel arrived on Saturday, it carried full of commodities"

However, the vessels are operated only twice a week and each of them can transport only about 100 passengers, residents are still facing difficulties.

Therefore, residents are calling on authorities to allow small boats to run along the water way and to reopen the land route which has been blockaded for years, according to residents.

Kyauktaw-Paletwa waterway is the major route for health, food and basic needs and business.