Food crisis in Bandarban's Thanchhi due to heavy rainfall, locals fear worse

About 2,000 families dependent on Jhoom cultivation at Thanchhi in Bandarban have been caught in a food crisis owing to heavy rains.

They fear conditions may worsen during the rainy season.

The district administration said at a media conference on Thursday that steps had been taken to resolve the food crisis in the area near the border with Myanmar.

Locals in Remakri and Tindu, two remote unions, have said the only means of livelihood in the area is Jhoom cultivation.

Jhoom or slash-and-burn is an agricultural technique that involves the cutting and burning of plants in forests or woodlands to create fields.

Many in Remakri and Tindu could not cultivate crops last year due to heavy rainfall, locals said. Those who managed to plant could not harvest the crops.

People in these areas said they were spending their days eating wild potatoes, fruits and banana stems.

Local representatives fear the crisis will deepen if the government and non-government organisations do not provide help.

Yong Nong Karbari Parha, a one-and-half-an-hour walk from Barhamodak of Remakri, is an area inhabited by 17 Mro families.

Ruimon Mro, 80, said, "We are in deep misery. No rice. We collect and eat wild potatoes."

"We will die if no one helps us," he added.

Adui Mro, 60, and Yung Oyai Mro, 56, said cultivation last year was very poor.

Kra Hla Ong Marma, the chief of the 18 families living around Karbariparha, said all the people other than children went to cultivate crops. Only five of the families have rice to cook. The other families can eat rice only once every four to five days.

The families that have rice are also lending out the stock, he said.

Remakri Union Parishad Member Mang Chong Mro said the food crisis had reached its peak.

The crisis was worst in Patoa, Likri, Chnoyetong and Bulu Parha at the border.

Japarangparha with 55 Tripura families has solar power, but only 10 of the families have stocks of rice.

Biren Tripura and Diyambo Tripura said they had never seen such a food crisis before. Insects affected the crops they managed to cultivate last year despite heavy rainfall.

The people of the area are living on Tk 300 per head given by nearby camps of Border Guard Bangladesh in exchange for carrying their goods.

Remakri Union Chairman Mui Shai Thui Marma said there were 1320 families in the union. Of the 1,000 families depending on Jhoom, 900 are in a food crisis.

He demanded a communication system for his area and employment opportunities for the people as a means toward achieving a permanent solution instead of temporary food help measures.

Tindu Union Chairman Mong Pru Ong Marma fears people may die if any area gets disconnected due to heavy rainfall.

Bandarban Deputy Commissioner Dilip Kumar Banik said the high quarters in the government had been informed about the possibility of a food crisis persisting all the way to October.

He said 46 tonnes of rice had been distributed among the affected people.