People in western Myanmar’s Rakhine state are struggling to survive as conflict blockades and shrinking humanitarian aid push hunger to alarming levels. Villagers are now foraging for bamboo shoots, one of the few foods still available, though it offers little nutrition.

 Daily Survival in a War Zone

In towns like Mrauk U, residents describe life as a constant battle. Rising prices, collapsing incomes, and limited food supplies have left families desperate. “Another day has gone, and I have to struggle again for another day,” said 60-year-old fruit vendor Kyaw Win Shein.

 Blockade and Aid Withdrawal

The military blockade, aimed at crushing ethnic armed resistance, has cut off essential supplies to Rakhine’s 2.5 million people. Aid once sustained the region, but global funding cuts — driven in part by Washington’s freeze on humanitarian budgets — have forced agencies like the World Food Programme (WFP) to scale back. WFP recently warned that 57% of families in central Rakhine cannot meet their basic food needs, up from 33% last December.

 Spiraling Misery

Scarcity of fertilizer has reduced crop yields, while soaring commodity prices put food out of reach. Residents say fish and produce are available in markets but unaffordable. “People are starving in my village,” said one man from Ponnagyun. “We eat bamboo shoots, but it’s not nutritious.”

 Long Shadows of Conflict

Rakhine has long been scarred by violence, including atrocities against the Rohingya minority in 2017 that forced more than a million into Bangladesh. Today, nearly half a million remain displaced within Rakhine itself, while a fresh wave of 150,000 Rohingya refugees has crossed into Bangladesh over the past 18 months. For many left behind, survival now depends on scraps.