Myanmar Junta Halves Road Traffic Amid Fuel Crisis

Myanmar’s military rulers have ordered half of the country’s private cars off the roads each day, citing dwindling oil supplies as war in the Middle East disrupts global trade.

From Saturday, vehicles with even-numbered plates will be allowed to drive only on even dates, while odd-numbered plates will run on odd dates.

The junta says the measure is necessary to conserve fuel, 90 per cent of which Myanmar imports. The conflict, triggered by joint US-Israel strikes on Iran, has sent oil prices soaring and blocked shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global chokepoint.

Exemptions will apply to buses, taxis, cargo vehicles and emergency services, but ordinary drivers face legal action if they flout the rules. Authorities have also warned against hoarding or reselling fuel at inflated prices.

The restrictions highlight Myanmar’s vulnerability. Since the 2021 coup, the country has been locked in civil war, with rebel groups controlling large swathes of territory.

Enforcement of the new rules is expected only in junta-held areas, leaving rebel-run regions untouched.

Analysts say the crisis is compounded by Myanmar’s reliance on Iranian supplies.

Investigations by Amnesty International and Reuters revealed that “ghost ships” linked to Tehran delivered aviation fuel to the regime in 2024 and 2025, enabling daily airstrikes on civilian targets. Iran also supplied military drones after the coup.

But US and Israeli attacks on Iranian ports have likely severed these lifelines. Amnesty warns that Myanmar’s fuel chain faces a “double blow” as carriers suspend operations in the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian exports falter. Rights groups fear the junta will turn to allies such as Russia, China or Southeast Asian neighbours to plug the gap.

The stakes are high. Myanmar’s air force has carried out more than 10,000 strikes since the coup, killing nearly 5,000 people, including hundreds of children, according to the opposition’s National Unity Government. Campaigners are urging Western and Asian governments to tighten sanctions on vessels and companies supplying jet fuel, arguing that cutting off aviation supplies is key to curbing atrocities.

For now, ordinary citizens face the immediate impact: fewer cars on the road, rising fuel costs, and uncertainty over how long the restrictions will last. The junta insists the measures are temporary, but with global oil markets in turmoil, Myanmar’s crisis shows no sign of easing.

-2026-03-04