Malaria outbreak reported in remote Kyauktaw Twsp village

By Admin 18 Jul 2026

DMG Newsroom

18 July 2026, Kyauktaw

Villagers are calling for urgent healthcare assistance as malaria cases surge in Taungpauk Village, located in the upper reaches of the Yoe Creek area in Kyauktaw Township, Arakan State, which is controlled by the Arakan Army.

The upper reaches of Yoe Creek are highly remote, with waterways serving as the main mode of transportation. Local residents said travel has become extremely difficult during the current rainy season, creating major obstacles for those seeking medical treatment.

"We need medicated mosquito nets in our village. Compared to previous years, malaria is far more prevalent this year. Nearly 99 percent of the 100 residents in the village are suffering from malaria. Even if there were a healthcare worker assigned by the health department to provide treatment, the situation would be too overwhelming to handle. We face a severe shortages of medical supplies, including basic medicines," U Maung Maung, a resident of Taungpauk Village, told DMG.

Locals said at least 40 people had contracted malaria during the early monsoon period this year, with some suffering relapses after briefly recovering.

The village has more than 40 households and a population of over 200. Most residents depend on nearby forests and mountains for their livelihoods, including shifting cultivation, firewood cutting and bamboo shoot harvesting.

Currently, malaria patients must travel more than three hours by boat to reach Kansauk Village. From there, they must continue by boat and vehicle to towns such as Pauktaw and Kyauktaw to seek medical treatment, resulting in high transportation and healthcare costs.

According to residents, a man in his 20s died from malaria in Taungpauk Village during the rainy season last year.

Heavy rainfall from July 8 to July 11 caused severe flooding that submerged around 20 villages across the Yoe Creek area, including Taungpauk.

Although the floodwaters have receded, village administrator U Tun Oo Chay expressed concern over the health problems emerging in the aftermath of the floods.

"What we primarily want to request from international organizations is support for the healthcare sector. There is an acute shortage of medicines in these villages. To outline our main difficulties, many impoverished people have suffered severe losses due to the floods. We want organizations to help them as much as they can," he said.

He added that there are no hospitals or clinics across more than 20 villages in the upper reaches of Yoe Creek, creating severe challenges for emergency medical care.

As most residents of Taungpauk Village are low-income manual labourers facing financial difficulties, many struggle to afford medical treatment, leading to preventable deaths.

"Regarding health issues, I am personally unwell. When I fall ill, I experience chest tightness, pain and difficulty swallowing food. Because I have no money, I cannot afford treatment. A single injection costs K60,000, which I simply cannot afford. If possible, I would like to see medical treatments and injections provided free of charge," Daw Khaing Thein Nu told DMG.

Villagers said that while the Department of Public Health under the United League of Arakan conducts free mobile healthcare clinics in some villages within its controlled areas, Taungpauk Village has not received such services.

Residents of Taungpauk Village, where malaria cases continue to rise, are urgently appealing for immediate healthcare assistance.