Villagers of Paletwa Township southern Chin state are suffering the devastating effects of the famine since 2007 in western Burma, a group of Chin relief workers said.

16 February 2010: Villagers of Paletwa Township southern Chin state are suffering the devastating effects of the famine since 2007 in western Burma, a group of Chin relief workers said.

There are 30 villages belonging to the Dai tribe in Tan Taung area. Their crops were destroyed in the second attack by rats in 2009. They have nothing left to harvest.

The locals are yet to receive help from relief groups inside or outside the country. The Chin Public Affair Committee (CPAC) is now planning to provide aid to them,” said Mr. Manglai, in-charge of CPAC.

Meanwhile, the rats are still active in Matupi and Paletwa townships because these areas have more bamboo plants then other areas in Chin state.
Although the World Food Program (WFP) and UNDP also help affected people in Chin state, it cannot reach the villagers in remote areas given transportation problems.

“Even the WFP cannot provide aid to the villagers in remote areas because of transportation difficulties. Most NGOs try to help people in town areas,” said Mr. Khawma, secretary of the Chin Famine Emergency Relief Committee (CFERC).

The phenomena of bamboo flowering (called Mautam in local parlance) takes place once in 50 years. Rats devour the flowers, leading to rodents

multiplying, which in turn eat and destroy crops in the fields and godowns, eventually leading to famine. It was seen in Mizoram northeast state of India in 2004 and end 2007. But Chin state witnessed it in 2007 and is still reeling under its affects.

Mr. Manglai told Khonumthung News that people in Chin state will need relief for at least five years to get over the affects of the famine as it has been on for three years now.