Over 200 nuns in Sittwe face hardships due to lack of support amid fighting in Arakan

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