Rats have started devouring crops in Sagaing division in Burma , heralding famine. Crops in farmlands in some villages in Tamu Township close to the Indo-Burma border are being devastated by rodents since early July.

"Since early July, rats are destroying several crops such as paddy and maize planted in farms in our villagers," a villager from Khanpat said.

However, a villager from Khanpat could not verify the extent of damage the rats have wrought in his village.  

There are around 50,000 acres of farms only in Khanpat village that have around 1000 households.

Paddy and maize are the staple food in rat infested villages including Khanpat village in Tamu Township .

To stop the invading rats, the local authorities in Tamu have provided rat poison to villagers. However, all the attempts are in vain, according to another villager from Khanpat.

"There is no effective help from local authorities in tackling the rats. I heard the people saying that another Nargis Cyclone is sweeping across the region," a villager said.

Moreover, crops in farmlands of some villages in Kalay Township have also been devastated by rats.

Bamboo flowering began on the Indo-Burma border in late 2006 leading to the multiplication of rats in the region. The rats gradually invaded the farmlands and destroyed crops.

As a result along the Indo-Burma border areas, people heavily dependant on cultivation are facing shortage of food.

In Chin state, there are around 100,000 people facing food shortage and around 1000 fled to India , according to the Chin Famine Emergency Relief Committee, a relief group comprising Chin social activists based in Mizoram state, northeast India .

The Burmese regime said that they have provided rat poison and around one thousand rice bags to the affected areas in Chin state.

Yet, the locals from the affected areas in Chin state denied that they had received aid from local authorities.

Instead, the military authorities allegedly seized rice bags that the Catholic Church had sent to overcome the food crisis, according to the Chin Human Right Organization.