Burma CJ Platform - English Edition

Burma CJ Platform - English Edition We Are Freedom And Voices.

The Hidden Poison of the Ayeyarwady DeltaCJ PlatformIf you look at the map of Myanmar, you will see the great Ayeyarwady...
28/02/2026

The Hidden Poison of the Ayeyarwady Delta

CJ Platform

If you look at the map of Myanmar, you will see the great Ayeyarwady River flowing steadily from the foothills of the Himalayas to the Andaman Sea, much like the main artery of a human body. In particular, the Ayeyarwady Delta often referred to as 'Myanmar’s Rice Bowl' is a land that millions of people call home and depend on for their livelihoods. However, behind those lush green fields and golden harvests, a dangerous poison now lurks, threatening the local communities. It is a toxin that is slowly but surely seeping into our vital water resources.

Although the Ayeyarwady Region is a land naturally gifted with an abundance of rivers, creeks, lakes, and ponds, it is increasingly becoming a place where access to clean water is a major challenge. Due to rising sea levels, saltwater intrusion is encroaching upon the southern parts of the region. Meanwhile, in the upper areas, groundwater is contaminated with arsenic. Furthermore, the discharge of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and plastic waste from agricultural activities is causing toxic pollution across the region's vital waterways and lakes.

Most areas in the Ayeyarwady Region still lack access to municipal water supply systems that distribute clean, purified water. Treated water systems are currently being implemented only in urban centers like Pyapon and Pathein. Consequently, the majority of the population remains heavily dependent on surface and groundwater sources.

"While we use bottled purified water for drinking, we use our own tube-well for household needs," a Pathein local said, acknowledging that the well water's safety and chemical composition remain untested.

A latest study from the University of Portsmouth (UK) indicates that arsenic levels in about 71% of the nearly 124,000 wells tested in the Ayeyarwady Delta are above the World Health Organization (WHO) safety limits.

In particular, the townships of Kyonpyaw, Kyaunggon, Thabaung, Pantanaw, Hinthada, and Zalun are the areas at highest risk of arsenic contamination. Long-term consumption of arsenic-laced water first manifests as 'raindrop pigmentation' (skin discoloration resembling raindrops) and 'hyperkeratosis' (thickening of the skin on the palms and soles). This can progress to severe conditions such as lung, liver, bladder, and skin cancers diseases with the power to completely devastate a family’s socio-economic life.

A research paper by May Thant Sin Win from the Department of Economics, Yangon University of Economics, highlights that in Kyonpyaw Township, a mere 2% of households have formally tested their water sources for arsenic, whereas 94.5% have never had their water checked.

While arsenic contamination in the Ayeyarwady Region occurs naturally due to geological sedimentation, research reports warn of increasing levels of anthropogenic (human-caused) toxic pollution throughout the region's waterways.

A doctoral thesis from Kyushu University researcher Nan Cherry Lwin highlights improper agricultural practices such as water waste, the use of untreated runoff, and the overuse of chemicals that are polluting the river system. The study warns of serious pollution levels in the drainage canals and estuaries of the Ayeyarwady basin.

Based on 2014 water samples, the study 'ASSESSMENT ON THE WATER QUALITY AT THE MOUTH OF PATHEIN RIVER, AYEYARWADY REGION, MYANMAR' reveals that lead, cadmium, phosphate, and COD values are above safety limits. It concludes that the water is unsuitable for drinking without proper treatment.

According to the study, the application of Rock Phosphate fertilizer in agriculture across the Pathein River estuary is likely the main factor driving the concentration of toxic heavy metals, like lead and cadmium, beyond permissible limits in the aquatic environment.

Additionally, according to a 2025 report from Myanmar Resource Watch, concentrations of lead, manganese, and mercury in the river water near Danubyu and Nyaungdon are exceeding safety standards."

According to Ko Naing, an agricultural expert in Ayeyarwady, urea (Pearl fertilizer) was once the primary choice. However, Rock Phosphate has become increasingly common after being illegally imported and sold under fake 'Three Circles' branding.

"It is used as a base fertilizer before planting and once more during the tillering stage; for paddy, it’s typically applied twice," he explained. "Most of the fields in Ayeyarwady are contiguous. As water is irrigated into one field and drained from another, the runoff from fields near the river flows directly into the river. Furthermore, substances like phosphorus do not simply dissolve or break down within a single year."

Local communities lack awareness regarding the presence of dangerous chemicals in the water sources they use, both from above-ground and underground channels.

Ko Phyo, a resident of Nyaungdon, said, 'I haven't really heard much about it in such a major way,' when asked about the dangerous chemicals in the river.

According to him, townspeople in Nyaungdon mainly purchase bottled water for drinking purposes, while using a combination of government-supplied water, tube wells, river water, and rainwater for their daily household needs.

Beyond agricultural chemicals and pesticides, the surge in plastic waste is significantly contributing to the rapid degradation of water quality. The Ayeyarwady River is currently recognized as one of the 20 most plastic-polluted rivers globally, carrying vast amounts of plastic waste into the sea.

According to research conducted in 2019 by Fauna and Flora International (FFI) in collaboration with Thant Myanmar, nearly 120 tons of plastic waste are leaked into the Ayeyarwady River daily due to indiscriminate disposal. The Ayeyarwady Delta has been identified as the region with the highest discharge rate, contributing roughly 32 tons of plastic to the river each day.

Additionally, a joint study by Pathein University, Kumamoto University, and the ASEAN-Japan Centre reveals that plastic debris density ranges from 4 to 9 items per square meter in the coastal areas of Pathein, Chaungtha, and Ngayokaung, as documented in their research on marine plastic pollution.

Because these plastics are non-biodegradable, they gradually fragment into minute particles called microplastics. Measuring less than 5mm in size, these particles contaminate water and food sources, potentially causing adverse effects on human health.

Because waterborne toxins lead to chronic rather than acute health issues, the long-term risks often go unnoticed by the general public. Nevertheless, studies indicate that the consumption of contaminated water is resulting in a high prevalence of severe chronic diseases.

A research survey by May Thant Sin Win from the Yangon University of Economics reveals that 96% of households in Kyonpyaw Township are struggling with chronic diseases. Arsenic poisoning has severely impacted the local economy, causing lost wages and high medical bills for 94% of families, while forcing members of 85.5% of households to take time off from work or school.

Considering the evidence above, it is clear that water pollution in the Ayeyarwady Region is on the rise, severely impacting both the public health and the socio-economic well-being of local communities. Due to a significant lack of awareness programs, residents still do not realize what dangerous contaminants are present in their water sources, nor do they understand how to mitigate these life-threatening risks.

We must unite today to restore our river to its pristine, poison-free state. For every drop of clean water is a heartbeat for the generations to come.

Inle Lake at Risk of Submersion Under Poppy Farms CJ PlatformInle Lake, the second-largest lake in Myanmar, is situated ...
24/02/2026

Inle Lake at Risk of Submersion Under Poppy Farms

CJ Platform

Inle Lake, the second-largest lake in Myanmar, is situated in the heart of the Nyaungshwe Valley in southern Shan State. The world-famous Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda stands as a defining symbol of the Inle area.

The Bilu Creek, the main water resource for the Lawpita Hydropower Plant—a critical power source for Myanmar—originates from Inle Lake. From its source at the lake, the Bilu Creek flows through Karenni State to run the Lawpita turbines.

Dr. Saw Yu May, a professor from the Department of Water and Environmental Studies who joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), noted that while the beauty of Inle Lake is defined by its surrounding mountains, this very geography makes its ecosystem naturally vulnerable to severe degradation.

She also remarked that the primary cause of the lake's decline is sedimentation. This is driven by several factors: the expansion of agricultural land and poppy cultivation through deforestation, charcoal production, lime extraction, and the clearing of forests to accommodate displaced persons fleeing conflict.

"I once trekked from Kalaw to Inle Lake over three days, sleeping along the way because I wanted to study the lake's inlets and water flow. The situation in that area is dire due to agricultural expansion. There is massive soil erosion. It was then I realized that all that displaced soil eventually ends up at the bottom of Inle Lake," Dr. Saw Yu May said.

Natural phenomena, such as mountain runoff flowing into Inle Lake, are deeply interconnected with human factors like poppy cultivation. This complex web of causality has created an environmental crisis that is increasingly difficult to control.

Professor Dr. Saw Yu May warns that preserving this ecosystem is an urgent matter, not only for the local Intha people but for everyone who values the country's natural heritage.

"Land use patterns around Inle Lake have shifted, causing silt and sediment to clog vital creeks like Tantaung and Indein," Dr. Saw Yu May explained. "The local people feel powerless to stop it. My research across the watershed revealed that many don't realize how their daily actions impact the lake. For instance, someone as far away as Pindaya isn’t acting out of malice; they simply don’t see the connection."

The significant surge in poppy cultivation and the expansion of deforestation for shifting cultivation in Karenni and Southern Shan States are direct consequences of the post-coup conflict.

Displaced persons are clearing forests for upland farming just to survive. However, traditional crops often suffer from broken supply chains, a lack of buyers, and heavy financial losses. As a result, many are turning to poppy cultivation as a more reliable and marketable alternative.

"Poppies can be sold at home. Buyers come right to the firm. Some even make deals before the seeds are planted," said Ko Oo, a resident of a village on the Southern Shan-Karenni border. "Still, the yield is unpredictable. It depends entirely on the season's weather and water supply."

In southern Shan State, poppy farmers incur capital costs ranging from 4.5 to 7 million Kyats per acre. However, in western Demoso—which borders southern Shan—water scarcity drives the investment for a single acre up to approximately 20 million Kyats. According to a local plantation worker, this figure does not even factor in labor and general overhead costs.

"We are hired to guard the fields and earn one viss of dried raw o***m per season," the worker explained. "Water consumption is about one gallon every two days. Each water refill costs around 60,000 Kyats, and that excludes the expenses for weeding or scoring the poppy bulbs."

Currently, there is a lack of systematic measurement or protection regarding the deterioration of Inle Lake’s watershed systems.

A visitor from Yangon’s Hlaing Township, who recently reached Inle area, remarked that the lake has changed significantly over the last eight years, though the exact timeline of this decline is difficult to pinpoint.

"During the visit, it was clear that daytime temperatures at Inle Lake have risen," the visitor noted. "Additionally, the water level has dropped. In certain areas, boat paddles now strike the lake bed. While the outward appearance remains somewhat similar, the transformation is noticeable enough that everyone comments on it."

A woman living on the upper embankment of the lake observed that the most extensive poppy cultivation occurs toward Pekon Lake. She added that in the post-coup period, natural disasters—including mountain collapses, landslides, and flooding—have resulted in fatalities. Despite these tragedies, restoration efforts have yet to yield effective results.

"In September 2024, the area suffered from mountain collapses and landslides. Silt flooded the lake, floating islands vanished, and water hyacinths congested the Moebye Bridge," a local stated. "This leads to extreme flooding during the rainy season, while in the summer, the lake becomes dangerously shallow due to sediment buildup. An earthquake during that same period also caused water levels to drop significantly for a time."

A representative from an Inle Lake conservation movement noted that poppy plantations are expanding rapidly from Nyaunglebin village toward the lakeshore at Nantoke village. In Hsihseng and Pinlaung townships, cultivation areas have grown by nearly 20 acres. Both locals and displaced persons are now growing poppies on a small scale—a trend the official describes as "inviting a natural disaster."

"Poppy fields are increasing in Pinlaung and Hsihseng. Because these areas are distant from the lake, locals are not yet concerned. However, the stretch along Pekon Lake is now dominated by poppy fields," the official explained.

"Consequently, the climate is changing noticeably and becoming hotter. In 2024, heavy rains throughout the year caused some farmers to lose their summer paddy, while others saw their monsoon seedlings submerged. By 2025, flooding worsened because the silt could not be cleared. Furthermore, field surveys are currently impossible to conduct due to the risks posed by both the junta regime and revolutionary forces."

A local water resource expert pointed out that water scarcity in Inle Lake is directly linked to poppy cultivation. He warned that without proper management, Pekon Lake could disappear entirely, and Inle Lake will continue to silt up. He added that across Southern Shan State and the Karenni-Shan border, water is being diverted for poppy irrigation, and fertilizers are leaching into the groundwater. This creates a dire risk of extinction for many aquatic species, yet no effective restoration plans have been implemented.

Rather than halting cultivation, the junta and local armed groups have supported its long-term entrenchment since long before the coup. An administrative official from the Shan-Karenni border stated that junta forces maintain "showcase" poppy fields to destroy for the media to project authority. In reality, a collaborative business interest has existed for over 50 years and remains unchallenged.

According to the UNODC "Myanmar O***m Survey," poppy cultivation in Myanmar surged from a 2% increase in 2021 to 33% in 2022. By 2023, production reached 1,080 metric tons across 47,100 hectares, maintaining Myanmar's position as the world's leading o***m producer.

The border official added that this increase is a long-term project for the junta and its armed business partners. Since farmers cannot even sell substitute crops, such as avocados, no clear solution currently exists to halt the trade.

"If the relevant officials truly desired to eradicate poppy cultivation, it would have happened long ago. Instead, the police, the army, and local ethnic armed organizations all collect taxes and protection fees," the official said. "Farmers even plant communal 'sacrifice' plots specifically for authorities to destroy for show. Poppy farming isn't a recent development; it has become a traditional livelihood."

With nearly 500 displaced persons and locals expanding small-scale cultivation in Southern Shan and Western Demoso, o***m production is trending higher than last year. Driven by post-coup conflict, ordinary citizens have been displaced and forced to clear forests for shifting cultivation to survive. When these crops fail due to ongoing instability, they turn to poppies. In their struggle for survival, they are inadvertently contributing to the destruction of Inle Lake and Bilu Creek.

"This story was supported by Internews' Earth Journalism Network"

Chindwin: A river on the Verge of Extinction CJ Platform  The Chindwin River is a major waterway flowing from north to s...
15/02/2026

Chindwin: A river on the Verge of Extinction

CJ Platform

The Chindwin River is a major waterway flowing from north to south through Myanmar, originating in the Patkai Range and the Kumon Mountains. Stretching approximately 750 miles, Chindwin is the largest tributary of the Ayeyarwady River. Near the town of Myingyan, it converges with and helps sustain the great Ayeyarwady.
“We now have to pay extremely high prices even for vegetables that used to be very cheap. Throughout the monsoon season, tomatoes have cost 7,000 kyats per Viss, a gourd 4,000 kyats, and pork 25,000 kyats per Viss. These are things we have never experienced before. Everything is ruined, and we are suffering. It would be better if this [current situation] had never happened or could now disappear,” said a local elderly man Ba Gyi Aung, gazing at the spot where his old plantation once stood on a silt-land island (alluvial island) along the Chindwin River.
Ba Gyi Aung in his 70s is a native of Myauk Chun Village in Minkin Township, Sagaing Region. Since his youth, agriculture has been his only livelihood. The fertile silt-land islands along the Chindwin, naturally enriched by sediment, have been his lifelong companion. And he no longer has any land to cultivate.
Where his plantation once stood, rafts and pipes are now lined up in rows. Floating mining rafts are scattered across the Chindwin River, filled with the deafening, rhythmic clatter of heavy machinery.
Ba Gyi Aung’s silt-land island has been transformed into an alluvial gold mining site by gold diggers driven by greed.
Since ancient times, communities upstream of the Chindwin River have traditionally sifted for gold on a small, manageable scale. Originating in vast mountain ranges, the Chindwin carries abundant water resources and has long provided precious gold dust to local people.
On February 1, 2021, Myanmar’s military seized power from the civilian government led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. During the period of military rule, the rule of law has collapsed entirely.

Pro-democracy supporters opposing the coup formed revolutionary forces and took up arms against the junta.
Ba Gyi Aung’s native village, Myauk Chun, and most villages along the Chindwin River were among the earliest areas liberated from junta rule, beginning in late 2021.
To fund the operation of local administrative bodies, the Chindwin River itself was eventually put to use.
From mid-2022, resistance forces invited business entrepreneurs to carry out gold mining operations in the Chindwin River through a bidding process worth ten of billions of kyats. However, residents objected to the plan.
By early 2024, alluvial gold mining sites had reached the vicinity of Ba Gyi Aung’s village, Myauk Chun.
“They have designated it as an alluvial gold mining site; they have taken about half of the silt-land island as if they had seized it,” Ba Gyi Aung said.
The silt-land island that Ba Gyi Aung and others had cleared and cultivated from the beginning was once a peaceful area covering more than 250 acres and providing livelihoods for many local families. Now, less than one-third of the original cultivable land remains.
In addition to the degradation of fertile silt-land islands used for cultivation and livelihoods, Ba Gyi Aung and his fellow villagers are suffering from the impacts of informal alluvial gold mining operations.
Alluvial gold mining in the river involves attaching pipes as long as six feet or more to rafts and lowering them about ten feet below the riverbed. Large machines then suck up riverbed material and pour it over filters or sieves (locally known as “velvet cloths”). Mercury is used to bind and extract gold from the sediment. The riverbed is suctioned until the underlying bedrock is exposed, and mercury-contaminated runoff is discharged back into the river. The great Chindwin River is now on the verge of extinction.
“When they use those pipes to suction up all the sediment, it creates deep holes. It is like a paved road in a city; the rough bedrock appears because everything else has been stripped away. Our villagers and the local community suffer losses. The mining owners and [the authorities] lose nothing; they only make a profit. The loss belongs to the entire village, the entire tract,” Ba Gyi Aung said.
Waste soil discarded by gold mining operations has destroyed local agricultural land. The Chindwin River water, which Ba Gyi Aung and his community have relied on for drinking their entire lives, is no longer usable.
“In the past, the water was crystal clear during this season. Now, we have to collect water and store it until the sediment settles before we can use it. If we want to use it in the morning, we must collect it the evening before. There is so much sediment, and sometimes oil slicks caused by gold mining activities can be seen floating on the water,” said a local woman from Myauk Chun Village.
Furthermore, no one monitors or inspects the toxic, mercury-contaminated liquids discharged from the gold mining sites.
It remains unclear how these gold mining operations are meant to benefit local communities. At present, the Chindwin River water is undrinkable, and those who use it for bathing have begun developing skin diseases.
“The people working at the alluvial gold mines discharge everything into the river, even human waste. All the waste from the gold extraction process goes into the river as well. Many people—both children and adults—who have to bathe in the river are covered in itchy sores and rashes,” said a local man in his 40s.
There are no doctors to treat these diseases, and no one to protect the Chindwin River. For Ba Gyi Aung and other local residents, there is no one to rely on.

“The locals were threatened with arrest or death if they protested against these gold mining sites. Even before the operations began in Myauk Chun, they attempted to assassinate the leader of the local People’s Defence Organisation (PaKaFa) from In Kone Gyi village because he opposed the informal gold mining activities. He was eventually forced to flee,” said a resident of Myauk Chun in his 30s.
There are approximately 200 alluvial gold mining rafts operating near Ba Gyi Aung’s village. Those controlling the mining sites are officials from the Mingin Township resistance forces, who collect so-called “tax fees” ranging from 10 million to 30 million kyats per raft each month.
“Around mid-November last year, they granted permission to continue mining operations for an eight-month term, collecting between 10 million and 30 million kyats per raft,” said a man in his 40s from Myauk Chun, explaining the costs of an alluvial mining site he is familiar with.
One gold mine site owner confirmed: “It is collected for ‘funding.’ For the first payment, we had to pay a tax of 100 million kyats. In the following months, we pay taxes based on the amount of gold we extract.”
What Ba Gyi Aung and other locals understand is that the National Unity Government (NUG) is not selling the gold mining sites but granting production permits for a limited period. They were told the operations are supervised by environmental conservation committees from five local resistance forces. However, they do not know how this supervision is carried out or how the collected funds are ultimately used.
“Gambling dens such as animal dice games, KTVs and massage parlours—there are so many of them. They are operating right inside the designated gold mining areas. They were built next to local administration offices. All these activities are run together at the same time,” Ba Gyi Aung said, describing what he has witnessed.
The Mingin Township People’s Administration Team (PaAhPa) said that taxes and funds generated from the gold mining sites are distributed and used at different levels.
“We have to ensure that the river and its banks are not destroyed during inspections. We also have to collect taxes for the [NUG] government. Revolutionary funds are allocated to the resistance forces, local funds go to the villages, and commercial taxes are given to the ministry,” an official from the Mingin Township People’s Administration Team said.
While the junta is preparing to damage the Ayeyarwady River—the lifeblood of Myanmar—through the Myitsone project, the Chindwin River, the Ayeyarwady’s main tributary, is already beginning to die due to gold mining operations.
No one is protecting the river from mercury contamination, riverbank destruction, or the loss of aquatic resources. If the 750-mile-long Chindwin River is not preserved in time, future generations may learn only from school textbooks that a great river called the Chindwin once existed in Myanmar, that people like Ba Gyi Aung once lived peacefully along its banks, and about those who ultimately destroyed it.

🖋Min Htet
(Note: Names of residents have been withheld for their security.)
"This story was supported by Internews' Earth Journalism Network"

13/02/2026

ကရင်နီအတွက် ရေကြည်တစ်ပေါက်

#ကရင်နီ #ရွေ့ပြောင်းတောင်ယာ

Water Crisis Atop Billion-Dollar Jade Deposits CJ PlatformWhen Ko Naw Naw, a resident of Hpakant in Kachin State, opens ...
07/02/2026

Water Crisis Atop Billion-Dollar Jade Deposits

CJ Platform

When Ko Naw Naw, a resident of Hpakant in Kachin State, opens the lid of his kettle, the sight inside would shock anyone from outside the region: the water has solidified into thick chunks of limescale.

"If the same water is boiled and used for just two or three days, it turns into solid deposits. The lime content is so high that our daily lives have become incredibly difficult," Ko Naw Naw said.

For locals, however, this is no longer a surprise. Beyond the high mineral content, the population is grappling with severe water scarcity. A 58-year-old resident echoed these concerns: "The water in Hpakant is no longer drinkable. It leaves our hair brittle and dry, and we are seeing a sharp rise in kidney disease across the community."

Although the 2014 census recorded over 310,000 residents in Hpakant, locals report that the vast majority still struggle to access potable water. Residents trace the crisis back to the late 1990s, when mining companies began using heavy machinery. Since then, the Uru Creek—Hpakant’s primary waterway—has been devastated. This environmental destruction, combined with the depletion of other natural sources, has created a persistent crisis that remains unresolved.

While numerous reports on Hpakant cover environmental issues like landslides, the lack of rule of law, and corruption among local authorities linked to jade mining, a definitive study on the extent of water scarcity remains missing. Consequently, it is difficult to determine exactly when the region's water resources reached this level of degradation.

A 28-year-old resident of Nammaphyit village explained that the community currently relies primarily on wells and mountain runoff. "In our area, we draw well water for household use, but we are forced to buy bottled water for drinking," she said. "Some people still drink the well water despite its extremely high lime content. When the wells run dry, we have to scramble to find water from other sources and use it very sparingly."

To address this crisis on their own, some residents have installed pipes to draw mountain water, charging others between 1,000 and 1,500 Kyats per unit.

In areas of active gold and jade mining, locals report being forced to use backhoes to re-dig old mining pits and ponds just to find water for consumption. However, they remain unaware of the water's safety or the presence of dissolved chemicals, as these pits were never intended for drinking.

Moreover, no administrative body has taken responsibility for water distribution in Hpakant. Instead, local communities and companies manage on a small scale by piping in mountain water to cope with the shortage. As armed conflict intensifies between the KIA (Kachin Independence Army) and the junta, the civilian population is left to resolve the water crisis entirely on their own—especially in territories split between the two forces, such as KIA-controlled Hseng Taung.

An administrator from the junta regime, speaking on the condition of anonymity, admitted that despite the massive tax revenues generated in the area, the local water crisis remains unresolved. “This region generates an enormous annual income and significant tax revenue. However, basic infrastructure development, such as water and roads, has not been systematically implemented. In some villages, residents have had to cooperate on a self-reliant basis to pipe in and use mountain runoff,” the official said.

According to a 2024 report by the Myanmar Mining Watch Network (MMWN), women in Hpakant must make multiple trips to collect water from sources far from their homes, leading to physical exhaustion, significant loss of time, and ongoing health problems. The report further states that reckless mining activities by gemstone companies are causing the loss of vital water resources.

Locals believe that because Hpakant is naturally a rocky region with high lime content, unsystematic excavation—particularly the daily use of heavy explosives to blast mountains for jade—has destroyed the ecosystem and exacerbated the water crisis. They contend that during the rainy season, lime from these blasted rocks dissolves and accumulates in water sources, leading to high lime concentrations and the eventual depletion of usable water.

Ko Paul from the Kachin State Environmental Conservation Watch (KEJC) urged the relevant authorities from both the regime and resistance forces to address Hpakant’s water scarcity.

“Companies and authorities should take responsibility for finding a solution. NGOs and CSOs also need to provide public awareness regarding water safety,” he stated.

Before the 1990s, prior to the arrival of companies using heavy machinery, locals could easily rely on the Uru Creek for their drinking and domestic needs. Today, however, the Uru Creek remains little more than a toxic waterway.

Reports by Global Witness reveal that while billions of dollars are generated annually in Hpakant, the question of who is responsible for the persistent failure to resolve the water crisis remains unanswered. Hpakant serves as a vital hub for Myanmar’s invaluable mineral treasures; yet for the local population, the irony of living atop billions of dollars’ worth of jade while lacking access to water for basic needs remains a situation that continues to go unaddressed by those in power.

🖋Naw Nor

(Some names have been changed to ensure the security of local residents.)
"This story was supported by Internews' Earth Journalism Network"

ที่อยู่

Mae Sot
63110

เบอร์โทรศัพท์

+66945981411

เว็บไซต์

แจ้งเตือน

รับทราบข่าวสารและโปรโมชั่นของ Burma CJ Platform - English Editionผ่านทางอีเมล์ของคุณ เราจะเก็บข้อมูลของคุณเป็นความลับ คุณสามารถกดยกเลิกการติดตามได้ตลอดเวลา

ติดต่อ ธุรกิจของเรา

ส่งข้อความของคุณถึง Burma CJ Platform - English Edition:

แชร์