CNI News
17 November 2023
As the water vehicles that were ferrying between Kyauktaw and Paletwa have been suspended due to the battles breaking out in Rakhine State, rice cannot be bought in Paletwa Township, Chin State reportedly.
Because Rakhine State Administration Council have closed all the roads and waterways in Rakhine State, the water vehicle that ferried between Kyauktaw and Paletwa twice a week has been suspended.
Paletwa Township had to depend on medicines and other products including basic foodstuff from Kyauktaw and since the ferry stopped, rice has not been able to be bought in Paletwa, a Paletwa resident told CNI News.
“The roads including waterways between Kyauktaw and Yangon, between Kyauktaw and Sittwe, between Kyauktaw and Paletwa have been closed. We can't buy rice in Paletwa anymore. We have been buying rice since two or three years ago. Even though you have enough money, you can't buy rice because there was no rice since Tuesday." he said.
Rakhine State Council provided ferry service twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays since 2022. Because that route has been closed, although other routes can be used, it is not convenient due to regional instability reportedly.
While people are preparing to travel through Paletwa-Kyauktaw waterway
Moreover, rice paddy that has been grown on the hill-side fields in Paletwa Township has not been able to be harvested because of territorial instability. So, he hoped to re-open the waterway between Kyauktaw and Paletwa as soon as possible, U Maung Thein, a Paletwa resident, told CNI News.
" Because there is not enough rice in our township, rice is carried from Pakokku to Mindat, from Mindat to Matupi, from Matupi to Paletwa. It is a long way. But now that route has been closed. We have only two routes - Kyauktaw - Paletwa waterways and Paletwa- Smee- Matupi road. The goods from Nagaland tend to come in. That route has not been closed, I think. But there are not a lot of goods on that side. It's necessary to re-open Kyauktaw-Paletwa waterway as soon as possible. Otherwise, we all here have got into trouble because we can't reap our hill-side rice paddy." he said,
When the Kyauktaw-Paletwa waterway was open, Paletwa residents were allowed to carry rice and some commodities in limited amount. When carrying like that, it was convenient only if there was approval from the relevant departments reportedly.
