Trapped between conflict and Covid-19, villagers from Southern Chin face one of Myanmar's worst food crisis

Paletwa township, Southern Chin, is currently one of Myanmar’s most conflict-affected areas, as it has become cut-off by the intense fighting. This has led to the displacement of over 8,000 people. Prior to Covid-19, IDP and host communities were already facing serious food shortages and price hikes for most essential food and non-food items in local markets. Such shortages and price hikes are caused as the flow of goods has ceased through the traditional Kyauktaw–Paletwa waterway route due to the heavy fighting and resulting restrictions.