Maungdaw, Arakan State: Rohingya villagers in south Maungdaw town are now staring at food scarcity after being affected by landslides and floods on June 15 in Arakan State, said a local from Aley Than Kyaw.

The scarcity stems rice not coming to Maungdaw south from Buthidaung township and the prices of rice have sky rocketed, said a rice trader from Muandaw towhship.

Rice mostly comes from Buthidaung Township to Maungdaw. People can’t go to Buthidaung to bring rice by crossing the mountain regularly because of the monsoons.

Now, one kilogram of rice is being sold at 400 Kyat, while it was 250 Kyat, a kilogram of dry chili is being sold at Kyat 2,000, while it was 1200 Kyat in south Maungdaw township, said a local trader.

This monsoon, the price of everything is increasing daily so villagers are facing food shortage.

Besides, prices of essential commodities such as garlic, onion, ginger, edible oil, powder milk, sugar, potatoes, pea, salt, chili, turmeric, fish and meat, have also been increasing.

But, in Maungdaw north a 50 kg rice bag is being sold at Kyat 16,000 to 18,000 when it was Kyat 15,000 per bag earlier. Besides, the prices of all other essential commodities are also spiralling, said another rice trader from Maungdaw town.