- Web Master
- October 04, 2024
Thinzar Nwe, Narinjara News, 8 October 2024
Over 200 Buddhist nuns from 15 nunneries in Sittwe
town of Arakan State are facing hardships due to the decline in donations amid
the ongoing fighting.
Many local residents fled for safety since the
fighting began and the mass exodus severely impacted the nuns' collection of
donations, leaving them in a difficult situation, said a nun from a
Sittwe-based nunnery.
“Now there are no villages to receive donations. In
the past, we could travel from one village to another, but now we can only go
to towns where there are only a few people. As a result, we aren’t receiving as
much rice grains as we used to. We rely on donations, but now the prices of
goods become high and hence we have to pick watercress for our curry. There’s
none who can donate money,” added the nun.
Additionally, there is a pressing need for sanitary
pads for the adult nuns living in the nunneries.
"To be honest, we are only using rags during this period. A pack of
sanitary pads costs Kyats 5,000. When we go out to collect
donations we have to buy sanitary pads too. Currently we can hardly
afford one meal a day,” she explained.
Prices of essential commodities in the Arakan region are staggering as a
viss of chili costs Kyats 50,000, onions Kyats 30,000, fuel ranges from Kyats
18,000 to 23,000 per liter, fish paste Kyats 12,000 per viss, a pack of
coffee-mix Kyats 24,000 and a package of 32 short candles Kyats 10,000.
The rising medicine prices also make living conditions
difficult. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the junta's State government provided
food and supplies to the nuns in Arakan. However, due to the ongoing conflict,
there is now a noticeable decrease of support for the religious communities.
"Previously, the junta also provided assistance. Now,
because of the conflict in Arakan, there is no support or donations coming for
them. As the nuns go to the communities to collect alms, it becomes challenging
when the residents are fleeing to other places," stated the nun.
Amid the ongoing conflicts, everyone is struggling to
make a living as the junta's state government is not providing any support. It
put the nuns in a dire situation.
Sittwe supports 15 nunneries and once those housed around 500 nuns.
Due to the ongoing conflicts, only 200 nuns remain in those convents.
A nun from Sane sub-township under Kyaukphyu stated
that it becomes very difficult for the nuns to survive.
"We planted some trees for fruits in the nunnery
compound. We also feel fortunate to have some vegetables to eat. We have
gathered the fish paste, salt, chili and tomatoes. However, the prices are
extremely high at this moment. With very few donors, we have to struggle to
collect food items,” revealed the nun.
Photograph - Nuns and monks participating in an examination