The people of Matupi are running out of supplies after the military blocked the main road to the township in southern Chin State several months ago.
“It’s really difficult to buy food,” a man from Matupi town said.
After the imposition of martial law, the regime blocked the Matupi – Gangaw and Matupi – Mindat roads, cutting off the township, where it is fighting with resistance forces, from central Burma.
There is little rice left in the shops and not enough rice is delivered to the town from the villages in the township.
The source explained that due to the many roadblocks, lorry drivers have stopped coming to the township. He said if they don’t get more supplies soon, many people will suffer. But apparently the regime isn’t willing to let this happen at this time.
Paw San Mwe rice used to cost 30,000 kyat per bag, he said, and now the same sack costs 100,000 kyat, but most of the time you cannot even find it.
Some residents of the town have received letters from local officials allowing them to buy rice from Hpa Nai and other villages in the township.
The junta has also cut connectivity. Only landlines are available for communication.