Junta bans air cargo shipments to Sittwe

By Admin 04 Sep 2025

DMG Newsroom

4 September 2025, Sittwe

Passenger flights from Yangon to Sittwe, the capital city of Arakan State, which is still under the control of Myanmar's military regime, have reportedly been barred from carrying goods since August.

Previously, almost all airlines operating between Yangon and Sittwe were allowed to transport medicines and other goods, but the military regime has now restricted them.

"I think this is a military regime blockade. Cargo ships are not allowed to enter Sittwe. Airlines only operate two flights a week between Yangon and Sittwe. Medicines cannot be imported at all. Airlines are not allowed to carry even sanitary pads for women," said a local woman in Sittwe.

Locals say that cargo ships transporting goods from Yangon to Sittwe used to enter Sittwe every week, but now they have not entered for almost a month. With no cargo ships entering Sittwe and the ban on air cargo shipments, locals are worried about a potential shortage of goods.

"Now, Muslims and some Arakanese people are rushing to buy rice in Sittwe. It is not certain that cargo ships will come to Sittwe. The airline only leaves once a week and is no longer able to load goods, so commodity prices are very high," said a Sittwe resident.

The price of rice and cooking oil has skyrocketed in Sittwe, with one viss of onion costing K35,000 and 80 betel leaves costing K30,000.

Due to restrictions on the transport of medicines, people in Sittwe are facing health problems, including shortages of basic medicines, and some locals are resorting to traditional medicines for health issues such as fever and aches.

Locals trapped in Sittwe are facing high prices and food security challenges, while local labourers say that begging has become more common due to financial hardship and hunger.

"With no jobs and no income, there are more people who are hungry, beg, and steal. There are many people in every neighbourhood who are facing hunger. There are also many who are asking for help from houses that can afford it," said the Sittwe woman.

In Sittwe, locals had only been allowed to travel and transport goods by air, and now that air transport of goods is also restricted, locals are worried that they will face even more hardship.

There is currently a military standoff between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army in Sittwe Township, with frequent heavy weapons fire.

Sittwe is under siege by the Arakan Army, and the military regime has reportedly reinforced its forces in Sittwe, the Regional Operations Command, and other military bases in the area.