As borders remain closed and generally difficult in transportation, Khaunglanphoo, situated in Myanmar’s northernmost part, is facing food shortages.
It is in the Puta O district, Kachin State. It now takes 4 or 5 days to walk from Puta O to Khaunglanphoo and a 1 or 2 day trip from neighboring China.
“As a result of COVID-19, China closed mile post no-30, 31, and 35 day and night. To carry food from Puta O takes 4 or 5 days to walk and food shortage occurred. It’s been a month that locals have suffered lack of food. If the situation worsens, they have to hunt or look for food in the jungle. Now, locals are consuming some trees as food. They ground some trees and eat their paste. In 2008, and 2009, when bamboo trees produced fruits, mice were plenty and it affected local agriculture. To solve these problems, we need to do transportation better. Government couldn’t solve our problems every year,” said MP Shwe Lay from Khaunglanphoo Township constituency no-1.
If provisions are to be transported, Myitkyina-Chiphway-Sawlot road section and Myitkyina-Puta O Redum road section must be used for the southern part of Khaunglanphoo, according to the MP.
If food is to sent from Puta O by car, the final destination will be Chiphway. Locals can receive food using Chiphway-Sawlot road section although it is 1 or 2 day distance. When heavy rain and landslides occurred in 2016-2017, the government helped locals that way, he added.
There are about 17,000 people living in Khaunglanphoo which is made up of 26 village tracts. Lisu, and Rawan reside in the area.
