Goods Rot, Travellers Broke After Week‑Long Blockade

Mizzima

Hundreds of vehicles have been stranded for more than a week on the Mandalay–Myitkyina highway as clashes between Myanmar’s military and resistance forces shut down key routes into Kachin State. The blockade has left passengers short of money and food, while perishable goods are rotting by the roadside.

The crisis began on 30 June when fighting erupted near Lankhwa village on the Katha–Naba stretch. Since then, the Naba–Katha route has been closed, the Meza–Nanthe–Indaw bypass has been shut for two weeks, and the remaining Banmauk road is so degraded it takes four nights to cross. Drivers say more than 300 vehicles are scattered across towns including Naba, Pinwe and Mawlu, with communication networks down along the route.

Passengers are struggling to afford meals, and those with health problems face worsening conditions. A bus terminal official reported that tomatoes, flowers and betel leaves are spoiling in trucks, while merchants are discarding crates worth hundreds of thousands of kyat. One flower trader estimated losses of up to 500,000 MMK (US$160) per shipment.

The blockade has driven up prices in Myitkyina. Cooking oil has jumped from 6,000 to 8,000 MMK per 400 grams, while vegetables such as green chilies and tomatoes now cost double or triple their previous rates. Residents say basic items are becoming increasingly difficult to buy.

The fighting is part of a wider military offensive launched in April to retake Indaw and Mawlu towns from allied revolutionary forces. The clashes have already claimed civilian lives: a vendor couple from Narkhaung village were killed by artillery fire on 30 June, according to the Indaw Revolution group.

With the highway closed, the economic impact is spreading fast. Traders face mounting losses, passengers remain stranded, and communities in Kachin State are paying more for food and essentials. For now, the road remains blocked, and the uncertainty of when it will reopen hangs over both travellers and local markets.

-2026-07-10