A severeshortage of food items is reported in Ann township of Rakhine State and on 22April a man (53 years old) from Boke Chaung village died of starvation. Thevictim is identified as  U Tin Win, who was starving for two days.

A villageelder informed Narinjara News that U Tin Win went to buy rice grains from HtanChaung village, but died while walking on the forest road.

"Hehas eight family members and they need 10 cans of rice per meal. Due to theshortage, they could only manage four cans per meal. He went with his son tobuy rice grains. Unfortunately, about three miles away from Htan Chaungvillage, he died from exhaustion,” added the villager.

Currently,a bag of rice costs over Kyats 2,00,000 in Sittwe township. An internallydisplaced woman from Ann said that the price of one basket of rice in her placewas Kyats  1,70,000. She stated that despite having money, they wereunable to buy rice grains.

Accordingto the local residents,  a shortage of food items is emerged in villageslike Pat Kwae, Sin Khone Taing, Nga Pyel, Taung Sauk, Ka Myin Kan, Zar Di Maw,Boke Chaung, Dai Gyi, and Dai Ka Lay.

Ann alsohosts thousands of internally displaced persons. It’s inhabited by diverseethnic groups like  Chin, Khami and Mro. Many of them work as manuallabourers.