CNI News

4 December 2024

Although battles between the Arakan Army (AA) and the Myanmar Tatmadaw have suspended in Paletwa, Chin State, Paletwa locals are deserting their town because commodity prices are higher and there are no job opportunities reportedly. 

Although residents of Paletwa have avoided battles since January this year, at present,  residents are deserting the town more.

Lots of the displaced persons left for the India border areas and some of them went to the villages where hill-side cultivation could be conducted. 

Moreover, the locals have arrived in Yangon where there are lots of job opportunities by the thousand, U Kyaw Khin, a Paletwa local told CNI News.

While seeing Palet local IDPs

" Some of locals evade to the India border areas or went into India. Some went and are staying in the villages where they suppose are safe. Paletwa locals have already arrived in Yangon by the thousand. Samee is the same as Paletwa. The locals have no income there. They can go on living in a place where they can make a living. Even though there are no more battles there, if they have no income there, it will be very difficult for them to go on living." he said.

Paletwa Township depend on goods coming from Rakhine State and due to the current battles, it is difficult to make goods from Rakhine State enter Paletwa. 

Moreover, the transportation is not convenient for goods coming from Pakokku Township due to battles.

While seeing an IDP

Many Paletwa locals are government employees and at present, because the government mechanism has suspended, they are finding it more difficult; it is not convenient for them to do other jobs reportedly.

"In Paletwa, most town dwellers are government employees and some are NGO staffs. And some are religious leaders. They are most town dwellers. Because the government mechanism has ruined, it's been very difficult for the livelihood of government staffs and their families in the town. In the villages there, people are doing hill-side cultivation. There are no factories and workshops. When the government mechanism operated there, people were working in the government's projects building road and bridge." said a Paletwa local.

Among over 100,000 people who were living in Paletwa ownship, about 50,000 have displaced because of battles, according to those who are helping IDPs.