Four people have died amid an acute shortage of food and medicines due to a monthlong junta blockade of the Sagaing Region town of Wetlet, which is surrounded by resistance strongholds.
Around 150 junta personnel—including 50 soldiers, local police, junta-aligned militias, and civil servants given military training—are deployed to cut the town off from surrounding villages that are controlled by anti-regime forces, according to Wetlet Township People’s Defense Team.
“It’s been about a month since they imposed the blockade,” a resident said. “We can’t go outside the town and have to buy food from [junta personnel]. They are selling goods they have seized by force at exorbitant prices. We can’t buy the amount we need. Some people who are sick can’t get their medication any more.”
Fuel prices have soared to 18,000 kyats per liter, compared to a market price of just over 3,000 kyats in Yangon. Rice costs around 15,000 kyats per pyi (2.4 kg) and cooking oil around 40,000 kyats per viss (around 1.7 L)
Patients with chronic conditions like cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes are suffering from shortages of medicines and are unable to leave the town for treatment, resulting in at least four deaths from cancer and heart disease, according to local sources.
Wetlet Township is 27 km south of Shwebo on the Sagaing-Myitkyina railway line and is surrounded by a dozen villages that are resistance strongholds.
“Though the markets are open, there is nothing to buy. The flow of goods has stopped,” another resident said. “Previously, small villages around the town would bring fresh produce to sell, but now no one is allowed in, and all four entrances to the town are blocked.”
At the time of the 2019 census, Wetlet town consisted of 1,791 households or a population of 9,528, while the entire township had 210,677 residents. Only a few people had fled the town before the blockade.
A Wetlet PDF member said: “It’s the civilians who bear the brunt of the blockade. People in the town are being denied food and healthcare. Some have contacted us as they plan to sneak out.”
In early January, two military columns advanced towards the eastern part of the township, resulting in clashes with local resistance groups.
Resistance forces have since blocked the road that leads into the township from Kyauk Myaung to prevent the military from sending reinforcements.
Wetlet Township stretches westward from the Irrawaddy to the Moo River, bordering Shwebo Township to the north and Sagaing Township to the south.
