Food Prices Soar in Mawchi Amid SAC Transport Disruptions
By Network Media Group
Thursday, October 19, 2023
Mawchi is grappling with skyrocketing food prices as the State Administration Council (SAC) has blocked the primary transportation routes leading to this town in Hpasawng Township.
Previously, food supplies were transported from Loikaw to Mawchi through either the Dor the Tama Gyi or Hpruso roads. However, the Hpruso road has been closed since the outset of the Spring Revolution, followed by the closure of the Dor Tama Gyi road.
This situation has forced motorists to navigate jungle trails, a perilous journey laden with the risks of becoming stranded during the wet season or encountering armed combatants or artillery and jet fighter attacks.
A local resident, who preferred to remain anonymous, emphasized that no food products have reached Mawchi in the last two months. The regime initiated the blockade of the Loikaw – Dor Tama Gyi – Bawlakhe route in May, causing the food crisis.
The cost of essential food items has surged significantly. Presently, the cheapest rice is priced at 400,000 kyat ($190) for a 32 kg bag, while Pawsanmwe rice sells for 600,000 kyat per bag. Coconut oil is now 100,000 kyat per viss (1.63 kg), a viss of onions costs 20,000 kyat, and a single egg is 1,500 kyat. Additionally, a single 3-in-1 coffee mix is priced at 1,500 kyat, a viss of betel nut at 150,000 kyat, a can of beer is 20,000 kyat, and rice alcohol costs 18,000 kyat per litre.
With vehicles and motorcycles unable to travel the region’s roads, the arrival of food products in the area appears unlikely anytime soon. While some individuals had previously transported food from Thailand to Khemaphyu on the west bank of the Salween River and then to Mawchi, these supplies have proven inadequate for the town’s entire population. Moreover, since September, conflicts along the Burma-Thai border have hindered any further supplies from reaching the town.
Though no fighting has been reported within Mawchi, the standoff between SAC and Karenni resistance forces raises the specter of potential violence at any moment. This precarious situation threatens the safety of over 10,000 residents in Mawchi, known for its granite and tungsten mining.
