Aid organizations say they are running into difficulties with their operations as fuel prices increase.

Fuel prices have been increasing gradually since early January causing difficulty for organizations working on charity and social aid.

“With high fuel prices, we have to reduce operation time from about five routes to two or three a day. Those cars with higher fuel consumption have been kept in the garage,” said Min Din from Mitta Thingaha free funeral service society in East Dagon Township, Yangon Region.

Now, social organizations have to be seeking cooperation with other partner associations in transport patients.

“Previously, sending a patient from Twantay Township to Yangon General Hospital cost around Ks15,000 for fuel. Now it costs about Ks20,000. As fuel prices increase, we cannot send our patients right to Yangon. We have to ask for help from a certain partner association there. We send patients to Dala and then our partner associations take responsibility on Yangon side,” said an official from Seikta Thukha aid organization. 

Charity organizations say that as they have to survive with help of hard-core donors, fuel price hikes have caused difficulties for them.

“We seek donations in Twantay. They are usually hard-core donors. They help us. Families of patients also donate us for fuel. But most are so poor that they cannot contribute,” the official said.

Aid organizations are now concerned about further waves of Covid-19 in Myanmar at a time when they are in difficulty.

“In the previous waves of the pandemic, we could render help earnestly. But with these fuel price hikes, we are not in a position to help as much as we could previously. To see donations is difficult because most of the people in our community even have to tighten their belt,” said Min Din from Mitta Thingaha free funeral service society.

In the local fuel market, one gallon of 92 Ron Octane is worth over Ks16,000 in Yangon city while the price of one liter has reached over Ks1,600

Domestic fuel prices have increased gradually since February 2021.

They have risen from Ks140 to Ks150 depending on various fuels according to local fuel stations.

In February 2021, a liter of Diesel costs Ks660, a liter of premium diesel costs Ks670,  a liter of 92 Octane costs Ks625, a liter of 95 Ron Octane costs Ks750 respectively according to Myanmar Petroleum Trade Association

At present, a liter of Diesel costs, Ks1590, a liter of premium diesel costs Ks1600, a liter of 92 Octane costs Ks1575, a liter of 95 Ron Octane costs Ks1630 according to fuel stations.