Yangon, Myanmar’s commercial hub, is experiencing a severe fuel shortage, exacerbating the challenges faced by residents and the junta. Hundreds of vehicles queued up at dawn, with the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar attributing the shortage to delays in oil delivery from Thilawa Port.
Most of Yangon’s fuel supply relies on the port, but the local kyat currency’s depreciation against the dollar since the military seized power in 2021 has impeded importers’ ability to pay for fuel shipments.
In Bago region north of Yangon, some petrol stations are limiting sales to 20 liters per customer due to the shortages.
The economic fallout from the coup continues to impact Myanmar’s GDP, with the World Bank projecting a modest increase of 3% by September 2023, still significantly below 2019 levels.
The ongoing conflict between resistance forces and the junta, marked by clashes and offensives, further complicates the economic recovery.
Meanwhile, the Arakan Army (AA) claims to have seized a major junta base in Traunaing, Chin State, after weeks of attacks, according to The Irrawaddy.
The AA accuses the junta of using chemical weapons and reports the capture of weapons and ammunition. In other parts of the country, PDFs and ethnic armed organizations intensify attacks on junta targets, resulting in significant casualties and territorial gains.
This multifaceted crisis in Myanmar, involving economic woes, fuel shortages, and escalating conflicts, underscores the complex challenges facing the nation.
As the junta attempts to stabilize the situation with announcements encouraging deserters to return to the military, it faces increased resistance, with over 20,000 soldiers and police reportedly joining the Civil Disobedience Movement.
The international community closely watches Myanmar’s unfolding crisis, emphasizing the urgent need for diplomatic intervention and humanitarian assistance.
The intertwined issues of fuel scarcity, economic decline, and armed conflict require a comprehensive and collaborative approach to alleviate the suffering of the Myanmar people and promote stability in the region.
In late October, an alliance of ethnic minority armed groups launched an offensive against the military across northern Shan state near the border with China -- Myanmar’s biggest trade partner.
The alliance has captured one key border crossing and blocked roads leading to several others, denying the cash-strapped junta tax and foreign exchange.
Last week, fighting in the east briefly blocked another key trade highway to neighbouring Thailand.
