Scores of homes in Thandwe Twsp village destroyed by sea erosion

By Admin 27 Mar 2023

DMG Newsroom
27 March 2023, Thandwe

Some 100 houses in Hsin Khaung Village, part of Arakan State’s Thandwe Township, have been damaged or destroyed by erosion so far this year, according to affected villagers.

U Aung San Tun, a resident of Hsin Khaung Village, said shoreline banks have gradually collapsed due to erosion, impacting several homes in the area.

“Houses are swept away by the tide twice a month. My home was also washed away by the tide,” U Aung San Tun added.

Among those whose homes were damaged, those who can afford it are now living elsewhere as tenants, but those who cannot afford it have been forced to build makeshift tents near the homes destroyed by erosion.

The village has more than 400 households, with a population of about 2,000, and locals make a living mainly from fishing. Most of the people whose homes were destroyed by erosion say they are facing financial constraints as well as land difficulties in the rebuilding of their homes.

“Now, food is not important for us, but living is very important. We currently live under a home that remains in the village. If one house collapses, we have to move under the next home. We are having a very difficult time with the children,” said Daw Khin Khin Than, a local woman from the village.

The village is divided into three neighbourhoods, namely Arakansu, Hsin Khaung and Hmaw Pyar, with the homes that were damaged by erosion being in the Arakansu neighbourhood.

Some residents of the Arakansu neighbourhood have been living on the beach due to the difficulty of acquiring titled land in the village.

“In previous years, when the tide was high, the sand piled up, and over time, it looked like a beach, so some people expanded their homes onto the beach. The tides washed away the sand again in October 2022. Some 100 homes were destroyed by sea erosion,” said Ko Than Tin, a resident of Hsin Khaung Village.

Due to sea erosion, shoreline collapse is a growing concern in the village, and residents are worried that the coming rainy season will make matters worse.

Residents want the relevant authorities to do something to ensure safety and sustainable living conditions for the villagers.

DMG contacted Arakan State Minister for Natural Resources U Than Tun to find out if there is a plan to take action to address the existential peril that erosion poses to villages in Arakan State like Hsin Khaung, but he replied that he was attending the meeting.

Coastal Arakan State is often buffeted by strong waves and winds, making erosion a longstanding challenge for seaside villages.