October 3, 2023
In Karen State, Thandaung Township, residents of Leiktho town reported that more than 10 villages in Leiktho township are in short supply of food due to the military council blockading the Taungoo-Lotho road.
The Military Council Army closed the passage of trucks on the Taungoo-Leiktho highway on September 25.
Due to the restrictions on the traffic of trucks, there is a shortage of fundamental foods in nearby villages of Leiktho town such as Zale, Tha Moe Taung, Yardo, Warthaw Kho and Parel Saw and more than ten other neighboring villages, said a resident of Lotho city.
“What villagers need right now is rice, oil, salt, gourmet powder, and fish paste. All are inadequate. On the village side, everything is a rarity. Even if villagers ask for help from door to door but can’t get food anymore. Now, even if you have money, you cannot buy it,” said a resident of Leiktho.
According to residents, before restricting the traffic of trucks on the Taungoo-Leiktho highway, the military council army barricaded the transportation of provisions towards the township of Leiktho, and then they also closed the shipment of trucks.
“They have obstructed the carrying of rice bags for the last 3 months. Previously, a car could not carry more than 5 bags of rice. Because of that, the prices of goods are rising. Now they don’t allow big trucks at all. The bike can go but there’s a tough checkpoint. It’s getting tighter,” he said.
In addition, people who helped flee the war said that due to the closure of the road by the Military Council, the refugees in Thandaung Township are also facing food shortages.
“Now, cutting off towards the villages on the mountain, bombardment by aircraft towards the Thandaung City and there are shootings with large weapons as well. Now we have more than 500 war refugees and we can’t go through on the road, and the food is insufficient. Some of them have to eat only a single plate of rice for the whole day,” said one of those helping to escape the war.
Currently, the military situation is tense between the military council army and the local revolutionary forces in Leiktho town and Taungoo town, including Thandaung town. Additionally, more than 3,000 residents have fled the war due to the military council army firing heavy weapons and aerial bombardment in accordance with the reports from ThandaungMupoe.
News – Ko Phyo
Photo: ThandaungMupoe
Phar Si Than (People’s Radio Myanmar)
