Without access to the woods and rivers, the Rohingyas … don’t eat for days.
October 5, 2016
Village authorities throughout Rathedaung township have asked Rohingya Muslims not to venture into the woods or the rivers for the next few days. Anyone ignoring the order would face almost certain attacks by Buddhist nationalist forces, warned Aishwaramus of their respective village tracts. The announcement was made on Monday in all Rathedaung villages.
The announcement worsens the already volatile situation in the township plagued by chronic food shortages since 2012. Without access to the woods and the rivers, the Rohingyas basically lose all access to income. As most are dependent on subsistence income, this simply means in a situation like this, they don’t eat for days.
Fishing and logging are the two remaining sources of livelihood for the vast majority of the Muslim populace in Arakan state. Since 2012, those going out of their territory to catch fish or collect wood have been attacked by anti Muslim nationalists.
Many Rohingyas, including children, have to skip meals for days, and survive only on starch. 
Muslim activists allege this is a systematic effort to deprive Rohingyas of their livelihoods, create starvation and force the beleaguered community members to migrate to Bangladesh in search of food.
Our correspondents say such a strategy is working in many parts of Rathedaung township, especially the long besieged village tracts of Anak Parang and Mujai, where a large percentage of the population have escaped, following chronic food shortages. WFP has also slashed food rations, and locals in Rathedaung allege there are no donor activities in their neighbourhoods for months.
The food situation is also worsening in other parts of Arakan state.
For more information, please visit:
http://myanmarobserver.com/index.php/news/rohingya-news/291-mosques-shut-down-in-rathedaung
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