Road closures and renewed fighting in Kachin State drive up prices, disrupt supply lines

Local residents in Kachin State report that fighting has resumed since November 1 in Indaw on the Myitkyina-Mandalay road, causing road closures and a subsequent rise in goods prices.

A driver operating on the Myitkyina route shared, “Both the eastern and western bypasses in Indaw are closed. The main road was only open for about four days. We’ve had to pay around 1 million kyats in fees along the route. I plan to wait three days, but funds are running out. Hundreds of vehicles are stuck, though travel is still possible to areas like Meza and Nankathe.”

Combined armed groups have been attacking the military base in Indaw since August 16, blocking the main asphalt road through the town. 

Although bypass routes are available, they are narrow village roads or unpaved, which only smaller vehicles can navigate.

A small vehicle driver commented, “We’re having to use elephants and tractors to get through. We’re charged 30,000 kyats at the top of the route and 40,000 kyats to enter Mawlu. Despite paying these fees, I haven’t seen any road repairs.”

Following the road closures near Indaw on the Mandalay-Myitkyina route, prices in the Kachin area have surged. 

Gasoline in Myitkyina is now priced at around 9,000 kyats per liter, and some stations have halted sales. A health worker in Myitkyina said, “Pork costs over 50,000 kyats per viss, and fish costs over 40,000. Government employees can’t even afford motorcycles and are now walking or cycling. It’s unclear how long this will continue, but most people can’t cope with it.”

After the KIA took control of Panwa, all checkpoints along the Chinese border were closed as of October 18, halting the flow of food imports from China.