Htun Khaing (Taung Yin Kyun)

Narinjara News, 11 May 2020

Some areas of Rakhine State have started to experiencedrought conditions, Narinjara has learnt.

Townships where there has been a shortage of water includePauktaw, Kyaukpyu, Ann, Minbya, Mrauk Oo, Rathetaung.

Pauktaw Hluttaw MP U Aung Kyaw Htwee spoke with Narinjara.“Water is particularly scarce in Beronga Thone Island, it isn’t completely dryyet though. We face water shortages every year around this time, it’s alwaysthe same. And as water becomes increasingly scarce, people have to travelfurther and further to fetch it”, he said.

It is routinely seasonal in Rakhine State for there to beflooding during the rainy season and droughts during the summer, he added.Similarly there have been reports of villages in KyaukphyuTownship facing droughts.

According to Ko Kyaw Naing Htun who carries out outphilanthropic work in the township, the following villages have beenparticularly affected: Ba Yar, Chaung Hpyar, Taung Gyi, Ah Htet Min Pyar.

“Water has become really scarce. We are providing support asmuch as we can but we just can’t keep up.  Water supply is alwaysproblematic after the first month of the new year after Thingyan. At the momentthere is some water left, but it isn’t clean, it can only be used to watercattle and such.   At present, we cant get water that is cleanenough for people to drink”, Ko Kyaw Naing Htun said.

He added that there are also water shortages in Kyaukphyutown and surrounding villages.

KoMyo Lwin said that some villages in Ann Township are facing water shortages.

 According to the Ministry of Health and Sports’ announcementissued on the April 16, legal action will be taken against those breaching thePrevention and Control of Communicable Diseases Law which prohibits five ormore persons from gathering. However, in many places facing drought,restrictions on the time water ponds are open mean that ponds are frequentlycrowded with people jostling together to fetch water, one local resident said.