In Matupi township, located in Chin state, residents are currently facing a severe food crisis due to a road closure that has cut off their access to rice from the mainland.
According to a resident of Matupi, the closure of the Matupi-Gangaw and Matupi-Mindat roads by the Military Council, which has imposed martial law in the area, has resulted in a complete halt of truck traffic in and out of Matupi. This has caused a severe shortage of food in the township, leaving many residents struggling to find enough to eat.
"Cars have been prevented from entering and exiting the area due to poor ground conditions, resulting in depleted food supplies. The food supplies are stranded here and there, and cannot reach Matupi. Things are not normal, so we are in a situation where we have nothing to buy. Currently, we are saving and eating," said a resident of Matupi.
Due to this situation, the rice shops in Matupi town are unable to buy rice, and they have to rely mainly on the rice that comes from the village.
"I know that a lot of cars have arrived, but they have been stopped here and there, and they have not entered the city yet. With this situation, a bag of Paw San that used to cost 30,000 kyats can't even be bought for 100,000 kyats now," said a resident of Matupi.
He added that the inability of trucks to enter Matupi town would greatly inconvenience the people, and therefore, he contacted the Chief Minister of Chin State to address the issue.
Matupi town is currently experiencing a shortage of essential food items, such as rice, and the Military Council has not taken any steps to provide a solution to this pressing issue.
As a consequence of this situation, individuals who possess rice barns within the city, as well as those who had previously bought and stored rice, are sharing and selling their supplies. In addition, some residents must obtain a letter of approval from the administrator and purchase rice themselves from Phaneng village and other villages.
As of today, the Military Council has severed the telephone and internet lines in Matupi town, leaving residents to rely primarily on landlines for communication.
