Myanmar's economic downturn increases the number of people in need

In Myanmar, more than three months after the February coup d'etat, the economic downturn is remarkable as the turmoil continues, and more and more people are in distress due to loss of work and income.

Locally, there is a continuing movement to provide food to these people, but support groups are working with caution against the army, which fears the unity of its citizens.

Military crackdowns on civilians continue in Myanmar, killing 790 people since the coup, according to local human rights groups.

The military has also continued to restrict Internet communications and ban nights from going out to curb civilian protests.

As a result of this, economic activity is sluggish and more people are losing jobs and income, and the UNDP (United Nations Development Program) points out that the poverty rate could rise to nearly half of the population by early next year. I will.

Support groups around the world continue to provide food to people in need, and among them, groups operating in the suburbs of Yangon provide rice, cooking oil, eggs, vegetables, powdered milk, etc. to about 2000 households in slums and other areas. I'm giving out.

A 30-year-old man who works as a day laborer at a civil engineering site said, "After the coup d'etat, I have not been able to get a stable job and my life is difficult. I am grateful to the support groups that support this situation." I was talking.

Eighty percent of the money to procure food comes from donations from Myanmar people living overseas.

However, such activities may be subject to military crackdown as they lead to protests against the coup d'etat and the unity of citizens who continue the "disobedience movement", and according to support groups, supporters are actually in Yangon city. It means that there are cases where people are detained.

For this reason, groups store food in unobtrusive places and take great care in deciding routes and timings so that they do not encounter security forces when transporting food to people in need. is.

A representative of the group said, "Military leaders are afraid of the consequences of these support activities. They do not want to see people helping each other," and will continue to be vigilant. And.

Affects life and economy

The military-established Supreme Decision-making Body, the National Governing Council, has taken measures such as curfew and Internet communication restrictions throughout the country since public protests against the coup d'etat expanded.

Since the end of last month, these measures have been gradually eased in an attempt to encourage the resumption of economic activity.

However, in the center, many stores still have their shutters closed.

In addition, many bank stores remain closed due to the effects of the "disobedience movement," and the amount of cash that can be withdrawn at ATMs is limited, so the line of people waiting to use ATMs is becoming even longer.

The Asian Development Bank has indicated that Myanmar's economic growth rate for the year ending September will drop to minus 9.8%.

"Please give me the surplus" Barter

Most banks in Myanmar are closed, and the amount of cash that can be withdrawn at ATMs is limited to about 14,000 yen at a time, so citizens are in serious cash shortage.

In addition, many people have lost their jobs and lost their cash income due to sluggish economic activity.

Against this background, markets for bartering are opening up in various places.

In a residential area in Yangon, where citizens' groups are open irregularly, vegetables and vegetables are placed on a trolley with a sign saying "Please give me what you have left over and bring what you need." Fish and other items were lined up, and the residents who gathered brought home the necessary food instead of leaving the ingredients they had at home.

Japanese also support

Japanese people living in the area have also participated in the support for those in need.

Kenta Takada, who was engaged in food delivery and other businesses in Yangon, called for donations from Japanese people involved in Myanmar about three weeks after the coup d'etat, and procured nearly 50 tons of rice.

Then, they carried it to the area where many poor people live in several times and distributed 4 kg to each household.

A 65-year-old day laborer who received the rice said, "It really really helps me to get the food I need. Please express our gratitude to the Japanese people who provided it." ..

Mr. Takada said, "It is very dangerous for us Japanese to make political statements when a coup d'etat occurs, and in a situation where we are hard to change, support for the poor is also an individual power. I thought I could do it. "

Mr. Takada decided to withdraw due to the deterioration of the business environment due to the coup d'etat and returned to Japan early last month, but he is still continuing activities to support the poor with his colleagues who remain in Yangon.

3.4 million people may suffer from hunger in the next six months

WFP = World Food Program estimates that in Myanmar, in addition to the effects of the new coronavirus, 3.4 million people may suffer from hunger over the next six months, mainly in urban areas such as Yangon due to economic deterioration after the coup d'etat. Has been announced.

"Myanmar people have a very strong culture of helping each other, but the social protection that was previously provided is now systematically," Stephen Anderson, president of the WFP Myanmar office, told NHK. Is no longer available, "he said, pointing out that external support is needed.

He added, "In order to expand the scale of WFP support and maintain it for the next six months, it is necessary to expand the support of the international community."