Local residents report that six townships in Arakan State—Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, Rathedaung, Pauktaw, Minbya, and Maungdaw—are experiencing a critical shortage of drinking water.
Although these townships generally face a water shortage each summer, the need for water has risen considerably this year because of an increasing number of displaced individuals looking for shelter in rural areas.
A male inhabitant of Ponnagyun Township stated, "The water will disappear by next month. Currently, the pond is so murky that it can't be used. In prior years, water was already limited with only the locals utilizing it. Currently, with numerous individuals relying on it, there's a scarcity right at the beginning of summer.”
The continuous fighting in Arakan State, due to the junta's airstrikes and shelling, has compelled the majority of the city dwellers to escape to rural areas for safety.
Numerous villages in Ponnagyun Township, such as Pan Ni Lar, Kyan Khin, Aung Phyu Pyin, Thayet Cho, Ganan Taung, and Myat Lay, have encountered water shortages since November 2024. The circumstances have deteriorated, as certain villages are now facing an absolute water scarcity because of elevated temperatures and higher water usage.
Moreover, communities in Rathedaung, Kyauktaw, Minbya, and Pauktaw townships are facing challenges with water scarcity. The current drinking water ponds in these regions have not been dredged for a long time, resulting in sediment accumulation and thick mud, rendering the water unfit for use.
The need for drinking water in these townships is said to be significant, and in certain villages, locals are required to journey more than an hour round trip to collect a pot of drinking water.
A local from Kyauktaw Township stated, "The water is depleted, and every pond is filled with silt. Fresh ones must be excavated. Water is vital since it's required in all places. Certain ponds are overly murky for use, so we must depend on water from the creek.”
Villages located in Maungdaw Township, including Thit Tone Nar Gwa Sone, Mee Taik, Baung, Mingalar Nyunt, Aung Mingalar, Kha Maung Seik, Kyaung Na Phay, and Thar Yar Kone, have been experiencing water shortages since February.
The majority of inhabitants in these villages must collect water from mountain sources situated approximately an hour away.
Displaced individuals and local inhabitants in Arakan State are greatly worried that the impending lengthy dry season will be even harder due to the water shortages that have already commenced with the onset of summer.
To tackle this crisis, community members are pushing for the re-excavation of wells and ponds and replenishing the ponds with water while freshwater is still accessible in rivers and streams.
In every village throughout the townships of Arakan State, inhabitants have been reserving water in ponds since the rainy season, utilizing it for drinking during the winter and summer seasons.
Although Arakan State gets more than 200 inches of rain each year, local inhabitants indicate experiencing water shortages every summer, highlighting the necessity for improved water resource management.
In 2024, individuals in camps within Ponnagyun and Kyauktaw townships faced challenges with limited water supplies, resulting in the outbreak of skin and diarrheal illnesses caused by unsafe drinking water.
